All Whites midfielder Ryan Thomas is set to leave his Dutch club PEC Zwolle to pursue bigger opportunities elsewhere in Europe.
The 23-year-old has played over 100 games for PEC Zwolle, who are fourth after 18 games in the Netherlands' top football division, Eredivisie.
Thomas is contracted until mid-2019 but he is in no rush to leave the club as he would ideally like to stay until the end of the season.
But in the summer he wants to make a step for a new adventure, telling Dutch football magazine Voetbal International (VI) that if he wants to do that, he must move abroad.
"I've just become a father for the first time. The agreement with the club is that I will be looking for a new challenge next summer," he told VI.
"Here, only a transfer to Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV would really be a step higher. If they do not come, I will look beyond the borders.
Thomas, who has played 17 games for the All Whites, said he has already ruled out a potentional move to one of Europes biggest comeptiitons, despite interest from some clubs.
"There is at least one competition that I do not go to and that is the Premier League."
"My parents taught me to be realistic. If you want to play there, you have to be physically so strong. I am not yet that.
"That is always possible when I am 27, 28. My goal is to go to a club that has a view of Champions League football. It is important that the next step is not too big, but certainly not too small."
Newshub.
