Hamburg boss Martin Jol keen to keep Rafael van der Vaart away from Chelsea

New Hamburg coach Martin Jol has vowed to fight tooth and nail to keep playmaker Rafael van der Vaart away from Chelsea.

The £15million-rated HSV skipper has so far refused all offers to sign an extension to his current deal, which runs out in 2010.

Sacked Chelsea boss Avram Grant is believed to have had Van der Vaart on his radar before being sacked at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

Now the Blues will press ahead with signing the players the Israeli had earmarked for this summer.

But Jol, who replaced fellow Dutchman Huub Stevens at Hamburg, said: "We have to do all we can to keep hold of him.

"He is one of the best five play-makers in Europe and he dictates the rhythm of HSV."

Inter Milan and Juventus are also interested in 25-year-old Van der Vaart (left), who has scored 27 goals in 67 appearances but will not guarantee that he will be at the club beyond this summer.