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Ajax have given up in their attempt to sign FC Groningen striker Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan forward had been touted as an Ajax replacement for Ryan Babel, after the winger moved to Liverpool, but Groningen have refused to sell Suarez.
Ajax had a first bid of 3.5million euros (£2.4m) rejected and they then persuaded Suarez to go to court in an attempt to gain a release from his Groningen contract, which runs until 2011.
However, Suarez cancelled the tribunal after holding discussions with the Groningen board and the club then announced they would be happy to hold negotiations with Ajax.
On Monday Ajax raised their bid for the player to 6.5m euros (£4.4m), but Groningen again rebuffed the offer because it did not meet their 9.5m euros (£6.4m) valuation of the 20-year-old.
"It was clear to us Suarez was interested in a move and we were open to negotiations about a transfer," Hans Nijland, Groningen's general director, told the club's official website.
"We wanted to keep Suarez for at least one more season.
"If there could be a settled transfer, it has to be in exchange for a fee which would make us able to strengthen the squad.
"We are an ambitious side and Suarez is an important player to help us realise the goals we have."