Donny van de Beek, the midfielder of Manchester United, is being courted by his former club Ajax, although their financial limitations could hinder Erik ten Hag’s intentions for the player.
Donny van de Beek might find himself back at Ajax in the upcoming month, but the probability is that Ajax will only propose a loan arrangement.
Donny van de Beek has featured in pre-season for Man United but is likely to leave (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Procured from Ajax in 2020 for £35 million under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Dutch midfielder, now 26, has encountered difficulties in establishing himself as a regular player at Old Trafford. Across three seasons at the club, Van de Beek has been a starter in merely six Premier League matches.
During Erik Ten Hag‘s maiden season in charge at Old Trafford, the former Ajax standout featured in just 10 games for United, with only four of those as a starter, before enduring a season-ending knee injury in January’s three-goal victory over Bournemouth.
This incident encapsulates Donny van de Beek’s unfortunate tenure at Manchester United, occurring when he was starting to gain more playing time due to the team’s demanding schedule across multiple competitions. This unfortunate setback further accentuated his frustration since joining the club.
Ten Hag, the coach who extensively utilized him at Ajax, still hasn’t been able to integrate him prominently into the team. This has been consistent across the tenures of Solskjaer, who signed him, and interim United manager Ralf Rangnick.
Manchester United has been in negotiations with Real Sociedad concerning Van de Beek’s departure, yet Ajax has now emerged as another contender. However, according to the Sun, Ajax’s financial predicament may limit them to proposing only a loan agreement.
This aspect isn’t particularly appealing to Ten Hag or Manchester United. The club not only wishes to reduce its wage expenditure but also to secure a transfer fee, which would subsequently contribute to the acquisition of Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
Man Utd is looking to buy Sofyan Amrabat
The departure list from Old Trafford already includes David de Gea, Alex Telles, Fred, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, and Anthony Elanga. Additionally, the Hammers have finalized a £30 million deal for Harry Maguire and presented a similar offer for Scott McTominay, which was declined.
The potential departure of McTominay from Manchester United remains plausible. The club, though hesitant to let go of the Scotland international, would consider a deal if it leads to the acquisition of Amrabat. Meanwhile, the prospects of Eric Bailly, Dean Henderson, Donny van de Beek, and Brandon Williams leaving Old Trafford are still conceivable.
