Inter's Cristian Chivu is a serious option for Ajax

Frank de Boer has revealed that Ajax are looking at Inter defender Cristian Chivu as a "serious option" for the January transfer window as he aims to bolster his defence. The 31-year-old Romanian was linked with an interest from the Dutch side in the summer as his current deal at San Siro expires in 2012. There has been no visible sign of talks with Inter to extend his terms, meaning he would be able to join his former club on a free deal as early as January. Chivu played at the Amsterdam ArenA between 1999 and 2003 before leaving to get his first taste of Serie A with Roma. And the Amsterdam club's coach has made clear he will try to open a dialogue with the defender and his club over a transfer. "He [Chivu] is a serious option for sure," De Boer told De Telegraaf. "Last summer we saw Chivu as a possible replacement for Jan Vertonghen who was wanted by many clubs. "We had a look at Joris Mathijsen, but he decided to join Malaga. After that our choice was Cristian." However, De Boer is unsure as to whether a move will come unstuck as he tries to do some housekeeping with the squad, claiming a transfer depends on other factors. "It [the Chivu move] depends again on Vertonghen," added the coach. "I don't think Chivu will come to sit on the bench. "He is our plan B and he is a good alternative with a lot of experience at the highest level. Chivu is a great professional, who has always followed Ajax."