PSV in pole-position for Maher after withdrawal of Ajax

Ajax will no longer try to lure Dutch international Adam Maher from AZ Alkmaar, Ajax director Marc Overmars said Thursday.

"I have informed Adam and his agent Sigi Lens that we will make other choices and I called AZ to say we are no longer interested," said Ajax' Football Director Overmars in DUtch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Ajax will probably focus on signing Heracles midfielder Lerin Duarte (22) instead, reports Xinhua.

The 19-year-old midfielder Maher is one of the biggest talents in Dutch football. He has played 66 league matches for AZ, scoring 12 times. In May this year he led AZ to a 2-1 win over PSV in the Dutch Cup final, scoring the first goal. Maher has so far played four matches for the Dutch national team.

Maher's contract at AZ runs until mid-2015. PSV were already interested in signing Maher last year and also in January this year. The midfielder indicated he was ready for a new challenge in the Netherlands, with PSV and Ajax being the only options. He thinks it is too early for a move abroad.

AZ received a bid for Maher from PSV Wednesday, the Alkmaar based club confirmed. PSV have some money to spend thanks to some players' sales.