Ajax boss Henk Ten Cate has an "agreement" with Chelsea to become manager Avram Grant's new assistant according to his agent.

Chelsea released a statement on Thursday admitting that one option the club were considering was teaming current number two Steve Clarke with a foreign coach and Ten Cate, who previously worked under compatriot Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona, looks to have moved the head of the queue.

Sigi Lens told The Suntoday: "It's true, we have an agreement with Chelsea. It's an opportunity for him, a challenge for him to work with a big team and work with Avram Grant to build a new team. It's a big opportunity for Henk with big players."

He added: "Chelsea have spoken to Henk about the matter. There was a conversation and both the manager (Grant) and Henk are on the same wavelength.

"They invited Henk to a meeting to talk about technical matters and ask how he sees things and how he wants to play and that was good."

Lens went on to outline the 52-year-old's credentials for the job, highlighting his work at the Amsterdam ArenA as an example.

"You can see how he plays the game tactically. Look at Ajax last year. The season before they finished fifth and with Henk they were joint top and only just lost out on the title by one goal." Chelsea's statement on the subject read: "Chelsea first team coach Avram Grant has made it publicly clear several times that he intends to strengthen his backroom team in addition to his assistant coach Steve Clarke.

"One of the scenarios Avram is considering is a team containing a British assistant coach in Steve and a foreign assistant coach, a system the first team are already familiar with."

A separate statement later denied the club were interested in appointing Russia boss Guus Hiddink as head coach.