JOHN HEITINGA is determined to resist the advances of former club Ajax and nail down a place as an Everton regular.

The versatile Dutch international is wanted by the Amsterdam giants who could offer him a return to Champions League football, but Heitinga wants to continue building his reputation in the Premier League with the Toffees.

Everton are likely to need to sell players before David Moyes is able to recruit this summer, but despite struggling to cement a regular first-team place last season Heitinga is not eyeing an exit.

Equally, Moyes is in no rush to sell a player who impressed in patches in a defensive central midfield role for the Blues during their successful run-in to the last campaign.

Ajax, the Eredivisie champions, will play in Europe’s top competition next season and have long coveted their former youth starlet who joined Atletico Madrid for £8.8m in 2008.

Question marks have been raised over the Dutchman’s future after he gave an interview where he hinted he would relish a move to Barcelona or Manchester City last season.

The 27-year-old’s contract at Goodison Park expires in 2014, but he is understood to feel the English game suits his combative nature and would prefer another season on Merseyside.

An Ajax spokesman was reported to have said: “Johnny won’t be coming to Ajax this summer. It seems he is happy where he is.

“But he started at Ajax and we think he might end his career here one day.”

Meanwhile, Jose Baxter is willing to go out on loan next season to boost his long-term Everton career hopes.

The 19-year-old forward was a regular player and scorer for the reserves last year, and was named Reserve Player of the Season for 2010/11.

His form saw him named on the first-team bench on a number of occasions, while he even featured as a late substitute in the Premier League against Bolton and in the FA Cup against Reading.

The Academy graduate said: “Every time you get out on the pitch is a dream come true and I really enjoyed it when I got the chance to come on last season.

“Hopefully I will get some more chances to do so next season. If not then maybe I will go out on loan and develop my game there.”

Baxter’s displays for the reserves earned him regular praise from manager Alan Stubbs, who said he had matured both as a person and a player.

His five goals helped the team pick up results in what proved a difficult campaign and that was recognised at the club’s End of Season Awards last month.

“It (the award) meant a lot to me,” added Baxter. “There are some really good players at the club who are in the reserves and coming from the youth team so it was great to win it.

“I have learnt loads this season. Every single day in training and every single game you play you are always picking things up and developing your game.

“It has not been a season like we expected in terms of the results – we probably expected to do better – but it has been a season for young lads to get a game and improve and that is what the club wants and what the players want.

“Getting plenty of time on the pitch is the main thing but scoring the goals was a bonus and there is obviously no better feeling than putting the ball in the back of the net.”

Elsewhere, the uncertainty over Joseph Yobo’s future rumbles on amid reports that Everton have rejected a second offer for the defender from Fenerbahce.

The Turkish club are dragging their feet negotiating towards Everton’s £6m valuation, and chairman Bill Kenwright will not let the Nigerian leave for a knock-down price.