Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United open transfer talks with Ajax Amsterdam regarding summer move for Jurrien Timber
According to The Guardian, Manchester United have opened transfer talks with Ajax Amsterdam regarding a move for defender Jurrien Timber ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, in a bid to bolster their rearguard.
Just weeks after securing the appointment of Erik ten Hag as their new permanent manager, United could look to raid Ajax once again – but this time, for one of their players. In the recent past, the English side managed to sign Donny van de Beek from the Amsterdam side.
While van de Beek has not enjoyed a fruitful spell at his new club as of yet, there is optimism that ten Hag’s presence could change his future at Old Trafford. The pair worked together in Holland to secure trophies for Ajax, and also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Defence is an area that the new manager will be keen to solidify, given how poor the current crop of options has been this season. Their inconsistent performances have seen the English giants end the campaign with a goal difference of zero.
Reunion at Old Trafford
ten Hag has identified Timber as the man he needs to improve United’s defensive line, with the Dutch boss a firm admirer of the player. The head coach is responsible for handing the 20-year-old his Eredivisie debut in March 2020 when he was still a teenager, showing much he trusts the youngster.
Timber has gone on to prove his worth and justify his selection, becoming a key player in Ajax’s title-winning side over the past two seasons. With under two years left on his current contract, the Holland international is available for about €50m. The Red Devils have opened initial discussions regarding a move, which Ajax have countered by offering their defender new terms.
After a second-place finish in the 2020/21 season, United have only managed to secure sixth position in the Premier League table this time around. A big reason for that is the defensive performances from the team, which has been unreliable.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have not been able to recreate that same form from the campaign where they finished as runners-up, with the former proving to be underwhelming on the pitch. The club signed Raphael Varane from Real Madrid last summer, but he too has failed to meet expectations.
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The Frenchman was touted to be the first-choice partner for club captain Maguire in central defence and improve the team’s standards at the back, but he has proven to be injury-prone. The same goes for Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, who could depart in the coming weeks.
Timber is young and has no experience playing in the English top-flight, but ten Hag seems to have placed a lot of faith in him. After all, the pair have worked closely together in Amsterdam and led Ajax to success, so fans will expect the same from them again if United secure Timber’s signature.
