Manchester United look set to complete their first signing of the summer with a deal for Donny Van de Beek close to being finalised.
After tracking the Ajax midfielder since January, United made their move and lodged a bid in the region of £40m, which was accepted by the Dutch side over the weekend. The move is expected to be sealed once the Holland international completes a medical and agrees personal terms with the Old Trafford club.
Van de Beek has been scouted extensively by United, and speculation intensified once the midfielder was left out of the Ajax squad to face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. News of a move was confirmed soon after.
A product of Ajax’s fabled youth academy, Van de Beek has netted 40 times over the last three seasons, helping the Dutch side reach the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018-2019 season.
The swift nature of the move has come as quite a surprise, with negotiations completed much quicker than usual for United. In what’s been a frustrating transfer window so far, the Red Devils have yet to make any additions to their current squad, with negotiations over a fee for number one target Jadon Sancho currently at an impasse.
Borussia Dortmund are said to be holding out for more than £100m, but with United unwilling to splurge such a large sum during the coronavirus pandemic it appears the situation is set to rumble on right through the transfer window.
United fans will remember similar issues over the transfer of Bruno Fernandes, with talks for their talisman dragging on over multiple transfer windows with United unwilling to meet Sporting Lisbon’s asking price. The speed of the Van de Beek transfer will come as a welcome surprise.
Van de Beek has been described as a traditional box-to-box midfielder who likes to get involved with the defensive side of the game while also making runs into the opposition box. He’s a versatile player who can play all across the midfield line, so he’ll provide more options for United and take the pressure off Pogba and Fernandes, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer likely to rotate the three.
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