Chelsea have finally washed their hands of Brian Laudrup by selling him to Ajax. The former Danish midfielder has joined the Dutch giants for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £2 million.

Laudrup (30) was delighted to have another chance to relaunch his career and he revealed he turned down many offers from other clubs to join the Amsterdam side.

"I had offers from 15 clubs and I have the feeling as a soccer player that Ajax is the right club for me," he said. "I didn't enjoy playing with FC Copenhagen and I had the same problems there that I had with Chelsea."

Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld completed his medical at Liverpool yesterday and is now set to rubber stamp a £4 million move to Anfield. Westerveld has only recently arrived back from Brazil, where he won his first cap for Holland. Westerveld's arrival means the end of the road for David James at Anfield, who has interested Leicester and Newcastle United.

Westerveld will be the ninth player, all foreign, that Houllier has signed since taking over last November. The 10th will be Lens' Czech star Vladimir Smicer, who is expected to complete a £4 million deal when an expected work permit is issued at the end of the month. Liverpool are also waiting for a work permit for Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz, who has completed a £3.5 million move from Blackburn.

Huddersfield boss Steve Bruce yesterday swooped for his third new signing by snapping up Tranmere midfielder Kenny Irons for £500,000.

Torino have made a bid to sign Derby's transfer-listed striker Paulo Wanchope. However, boss Jim Smith is not keen on the Serie A newcomers' proposition because they are offering a player in part-exchange.

New Wimbledon boss Egil Olsen is set to make Valerenga defender Fredrik Kjoelner his first signing in a £250,000 swoop. Reports from Norway claim the 29-year-old central defender has completed the move to Selhurst Park to join forces with his former boss once again.