Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United receive boost for Ajax Amsterdam starlet Jurrien Timber as defender snubs Bayern Munich move
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on Twitter (h/t The Sun), Ajax Amsterdam defender Jurrien Timber has apparently rejected a move to Bayern Munich and could join up with incoming new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
ten Hag is set to join United and take over as the club’s permanent boss at the end of the season, replacing Ralf Rangnick at the helm. He will become the side’s fifth permanent manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
The Dutchman has swapped Amsterdam for Manchester ahead of the new campaign, leading Ajax to their third consecutive Eredivisie title just a few weeks earlier. It also marks a hat-trick of league title triumphs for the manager since taking over the club in 2017.
The manager has his players to thank for the league triumph this time around, putting in consistent and strong performances throughout the season. One of the key contributors to their success is Timber, who has excelled in central defence for the Dutch club.
Reunion with ten Hag at Old Trafford
The 20-year-old’s displays at the heart of defence have seen him attract interest from Bayern, but the player could snub the German giants in favour of reuniting with ten Hag at United ahead of the summer transfer window.
It is said that the English club have held talks with the player’s management, and the Red Devils are seriously interested in securing his services ahead of the new campaign. It remains to be seen how much it will take for Ajax to part with their starlet.
Central defence is an area that needs reinforcements at United, and ten Hag will be keen to bring along one of his rising stars from Ajax to address this issue. The English side’s rearguard has leaked in cheap goals and has failed to hold their own against stronger opposition this season.
Harry Maguire’s form will be a cause of concern for the new manager, with his club captain committing schoolboy errors to concede goals. His partner Raphael Varane has struggled to keep up a continuous run of appearances, being affected by injuries.
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Victor Lindelof has stepped in for Varane whenever the player has been injured but has not been convincing enough to nail down a starting spot in the team. The rearguard may still be stretched thin if players like Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, who have barely played, decide to leave the club in search of regular minutes.
It remains to be seen if ten Hag will make an approach for the defender, or look elsewhere for a centre-back signing. After all, it is unfair to pin all the hopes on the back of a youngster, and perhaps someone more experienced would be better suited for the role. But if he really wants him at United, surely he would have seen something in him.
With Ajax’s record of producing talented players over the decades, Timber’s potential United move could really benefit us in the long run.
