LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea expect to sign Henk Ten Cate as assistant coach within the next 24 hours, the Premier League club said yesterday.

"Chelsea... has reached agreement with Ajax for the release of Henk Ten Cate," the Premier League club said on their website (www.chelseafc.com).

"We expect to finalise his contract with Chelsea FC in the next 24 hours as assistant first team coach."

Chelsea want to rebuild their backroom staff after the departure of Jose Mourinho last month. Israeli Avram Grant has since taken over from the Portuguese manager.

Grant, 52, has yet to obtain the UEFA pro licence normally required to coach in European competition and the Premier League.

Ten Cate was assistant coach to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona when the Spanish club won the Champions League in 2006 and became Ajax Amsterdam coach in May that year on a two-year contract.

Ajax were eliminated from the Uefa Cup earlier this month after a 3-2 home loss to Dinamo Zagreb.