Manchester United have been tracking Donny van de Beek for five years

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Manchester United are preparing to announce the signing of Donny van de Beek.

The Telegraph reported United have agreed a move to sign Van de Beek for £39.3 million.

Van de Beek is a terrific addition who makes United better in midfield, with his ability to play in several roles.

He has proven himself at Ajax and needs a new challenge. United are the right move at the right time for the Dutchman.

He could of course have been at United a lot earlier. Five years earlier.

Van Gaal wanted him

Back in 2015, the second year of Louis van Gaal’s spell in charge at Old Trafford, United first took notice of Donny van de Beek.

The Mirror reported during the 2015/16 season that an 18-year-old Van de Beek had caught former Netherlands manager Van Gaal’s attention.

Van Gaal reportedly asked United’s scouts to keep him regularly updated over the midfielder’s progress.

Van de Beek had a long-term contract at Ajax already, and if there is one thing Ajax do not like to do, it is sell their top young players before they have made a telling contribution for the first team.

That is exactly what Van de Beek went on to do, playing a key role in the team’s run to the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals, and winning a domestic league and cup double that season.

Manchester United reportedly wanted £39.3m signing for five years and may have ex-boss to thank.

Now United appear to have finally got Van de Beek, with just the formalities of a medical and paperwork to go.

This is a signing which has been five years in the making, and for the good of everybody, Van de Beek arrives as a better, more well rounded and confident player than he would have been back in 2015.

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