Ajax keen on Vitesse trio

AJAX have made a formal bid to KPN Eredivisie rivals Vitesse Arnhem for Mahamadou Diarra, Victor Sikora, and Dejan Stefanovic.

Amsterdam club boss Ronald Koeman has made a formal enquiry to his old club, as he looks to boost his squad ahead of next season's likely return to the Champions League.

Ajax top the table - two points ahead of Feynoord - with five matches remaining and Koeman feels their European campaign's chances would be further enhanced with the inclusion of more experienced players.

Vitesse put a dent in Ajax's title hopes on Sunday, with a 3-1 victory at the Gelredome, but Koeman has looked at Diarra, Sikora, and Stefanovic as targets for quite some time.

Diarra has had a good season at Vitesse, including his part in Mali's successful African Cup of Nations campaign in his home country in January.

Sikora played as a substitute for Dick Advocaat's Holland against England in February, where both sides drew 1-1 at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Yugoslav defender Stefanovic was handed an eight-match ban by the KNVB for kicking Fortuna Sittard's Rolf Landerl in the face during a Dutch Cup tie last September.