Graham Potter has rejected a managerial return with Ajax after holding talks with the fallen Dutch giants, talkSPORT understands.

Potter, also admired by Manchester United's new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is ready to return to work a year after being sacked by Chelsea.

The 48-year-old thoroughly impressed at Brighton for three years and Chelsea hired him as their replacement for Thomas Tuchel in September 2022.

However, he was sacked after just seven months in charge and recently held talks with Ajax regarding a return.

The 36-time Dutch champions have endured a poor season and sit sixth in the Eredivisie after a 6-0 loss to rivals Feyenoord, with Ajax failing to win the title for the second consecutive season.

John van 't Schip is currently in interim charge until the end of the campaign, with former Liverpool man Jordan Henderson signed in January to help them improve.

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However, the four-time European Cup winners will miss out on the Champions League next season as they are 24 points off the top two with five games left to play.

Potter could have taken over on a permanent basis in the summer, but he has rejected the chance to join Ajax.

It has been just over a year since he was sacked by Chelsea, leaving the club as they sat 11th in the Premier League.

He guided the club to the Champions League quarter-finals but both legs came after his dismissal, with club legend Frank Lampard in the dugout as caretaker boss.

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