Dutch giants Ajax might have secured Champions League qualification if they'd signed Dimitris Giannoulis from Norwich City.

That's the verdict of the club's assistant manager Michael Valkanis, who believes that bringing in some of their transfer targets could have made the difference late last season.

He named one of those as Giannoulis, who was linked with a move to the Eredivisie in January this year. The 28-year-old is now officially a free agent after his contract expired at the start of this month, but a switch at that point would have meant a transfer fee for Norwich.

Giannoulis also could have signed a pre-contract in January with any club outside the English football pyramid, but went on to play a key role in City's push for the Championship play-offs and is still considering his options.

"If we had had more reinforcements, the results would probably have been better and we would have been able to offer more resistance in Europe," said Valkanis, speaking to Voetbal International.

"We probably could have finished third. For example, we really wanted Dimitris Giannoulis from Norwich City, someone who we thought could bring quality and experience.

"He was previously tipped by the management of Ajax, in the time of Marc Overmars. Unfortunately the management opted for something else. That happens sometimes."

Giannoulis admitted in an interview with Betarades that there was interest in his services from his native Greece, but said he was hoping to stay in Europe's top leagues.

Bundesliga side Augsburg are reportedly keen on the 27-cap international, with French sides Nice and Lyon linked more recently.

"Yes (there is interest from Greek teams), but that's about it so far, so when we're done here I'll sit down and talk and see which one happens," he said.

"I think I am a good age, and I think I still have a lot to give. So I think it would be better for me to continue abroad, but things don't always turn out the way you want them to.

"I want to play in Spain, I like it there, I want to play in Italy, maybe Germany, which is a very nice league. I don't know if generally life will be so different from here, maybe not.

"I've talked to people and they know what the reality is, they know what my priorities are."