Ajax star Davy Klaassen wants to replicate career of Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp

Ajax star Davy Klaassen has paid tribute to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp and hopes to replicate the Dutchman's feats in his own career.

Klaassen, Ajax's current number 10, has benefited from working under the former Gunners star, who returned to his boyhood club in 2011 as Frank de Boer's assistant manager.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a rise to prominence in the Dutch capital with his manager in February predicting the club will have little chance of holding on to the player should his progress continue at its current rate.

And the forward believes the influence of Bergkamp has played a direct role in his development into one of the Eredivisie's brightest talents.

Speaking to Fifa.com, he said: "Bergkamp played in the same sort of position. I've trained a lot with him on my first touch and finishing. He's a player I liked when I was young. I think I've learned the most from him. Sometimes he makes a little joke about the number 10 because he played with that number almost all his life, but he gives some advice about touch, finishing and how I can get the right position in the field. That helps a lot."

Klaassen, who has struck eight goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions this term, also identified another iconic Ajax number 10 in Jari Litmanen as one of his heroes and is unfazed over the possibility of imitating the feats of the two playmakers.

"Jari Litmanen and Bergkamp were the two players I liked to watch [growing up]. At the beginning when I took this number, Dennis and my teammates were joking about it, saying I had big pressure on my shoulders. I'm honoured to wear the number 10 and I will do everything to come close to the things that they have done."