It is understood that Jol wants to succeed Roy Hodgson at Craven Cottage but his path is being blocked by Ajax, who are keen to retain the 54-year-old.

The development contradicts earlier reports in the Dutch media that stated Jol is prepared to snub Fulham, providing Ajax give him the funds to strengthen the squad this summer.

"They (Fulham) were interested but in principle I will stay at Ajax," Jol told Amsterdam-based newspaper De Telegraaf this morning.

Jol had been told he was not able to recruit this summer until Holland right-back Gregory van der Wiel and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had departed - freeing up funds.

But, following talks with financial director Jeroen Slop and chief executive Rik van den Boog, Jol has been reassured he can bring in a cheap right-wing option and then spend more if the likes of Van der Wiel and Suarez leave.

The plan needs to be approved by the club's supervisory board - headed by Uri Coronel - but that is unlikely to be a problem after they recruited Jol just a year ago.

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Fulham have identified Jol as the ideal candidate to lead the club into the post-Hodgson era.

Hodgson oversaw the most successful period of the Cottagers' history when he steered them into the final of the Europa League last season.

The previous year he masterminded their highest top flight finish with seventh - 12 months after saving them from relegation.

Hodgson's success attracted the attention of Liverpool, who swooped for the 62-year-old at the start of the month, and Fulham now face a period of consolidation.

Expectations among supporters are high following two spectacular seasons and the new manager has a tough act to follow.

But the well-travelled Jol appears to be a good fit for Fulham, not least because he has experience of the Barclays Premier league following a three-year spell at Tottenham.

In 2006 he led Spurs to the brink of Champions League qualification with only a defeat by West Ham on the last day of the season dropping them into fifth place.

He was sacked in October the following year after Spurs' courtship of successor Juande Ramos was unwittingly made public.

A solid season at Hamburg followed before he joined Ajax, who he led to a second place finish in the league and victory in the Dutch Cup.