Hamburg began the 2006/07 campaign full of optimism after finishing third in the German top-flight last time out.

And after selling Belgian international defender Daniel van Buyten to Bayern Munich in the summer in a deal worth ten million euros Hamburg hoped to appease their fans with a good start to the season - but it has been anything but.

The club are still searching for their first win after opening draws against Arminia Bielefeld (1-1) and promoted Energie Cottbus (2-2) on Saturday.

Off the pitch things are little better with Dutch international midfielder Nigel de Jong complaining about being played out of position and his compatriot Khalid Boulahrouz heading for Chelsea.

Chelsea paid a reported 13 million euros for the 24-year-old Boulahrouz - a member of the Dutch World Cup squad - leaving manager Thomas Doll with a major headache.

"I did not want anyone who was 50 percent with us and 50 percent in London," said Doll. "I asked him how he felt and he was honest saying he did not feel right."

With Van Buyten gone and Boulahrouz following him out of the door Doll is left searching for a defender but that has not gone well either with Newcastle's French centre-half Jean-Alain Boumsong snubbing the 1983 European champions.

"Boumsong will not be signing for us," Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer told television channel DSF.

"We have a few names on the list and will be sitting down as soon as possible to discuss matters," said Doll.

The loss of Boulahrouz is certainly untimely with Hamburg facing this crunch Champions League second leg qualifier against Osasuna on Tuesday.