Chelsea are refusing to confirm that Henk Ten Cate will arrive at Stamford Bridge to join Avram Grant's coaching team, despite Ajax's confirmation that their coach's departure from Amsterdam is a mere formality.

Ajax gave their coach permission to talk to Chelsea yesterday and it appears that Ten Cate has only to agree personal terms with the Premier League club to ensure he teams up with Grant and assistant Steve Clarke.

Chelsea, however, have yet to make any official comment over his proposed move, although Ajax do not expect negotiations to drag on.

A statement issued by the Dutch club on their official website read: "Ajax have reached agreement with the English club about the immediate transfer of Henk Ten Cate.

"After being approached by Chelsea, Henk Ten Cate asked the Ajax management last week for permission to start negotiations with the Premier League side.

After internal deliberations, Ajax granted permission.

"It is now up to Chelsea and Henk Ten Cate to finalise the deal together. Ajax do not expect this to take much time."

Grant is still looking for a fitness coach, a goalkeeping coach and a scout, but Clarke and Ten Cate would be the two men responsible for first-team affairs under him.

The 52-year-old Israeli has always worked with two assistants and confirmed last Friday that he was hoping for a European coach to work with Clarke - citing Ten Cate as one of the men he had identified as a possible addition to his backroom staff.

It has been widely reported that Ten Cate will agree a three-year contract with Chelsea.

Ajax currently lie second in the Dutch league but they have crashed out of two European competitions. They lost to Slavia Prague in Champions League qualifying before going down to Dinamo Zagreb in the Uefa Cup first round.

And during Sunday's 2-2 draw at Sparta Rotterdam, fans aimed abuse at Ten Cate, club chairman John Jaakke and defender Jurgen Colin.

Regular chants of "Henkie, get lost and take Jaakke and Colin with you" rang around the away end as Ajax struggled to gain a point.

Ten Cate, who previously worked under compatriot Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona, responded by defending his time in charge, which has yielded two trophies - last season's Dutch Cup and the Dutch Super Cup.

"What must I say about that? Under my leadership we have played 41 games, gained 92 points and scored over a hundred goals," he said, but he would not be drawn on his future. "I can't say if I was sitting on the Ajax bench for the last time. That's not up to me. It's now something between Ajax and Chelsea.

"I don't know more than that the clubs are speaking. And if they don't come to an agreement I will gladly be coach of Ajax until the end of the season. And if they reach a deal I will go to Chelsea."