Manchester United are claimed by The Times to be weighing up a move for Ajax dynamo Donny van de Beek, with the club valuing him at £36 million.
Van de Beek could become a key player for United, even though there is a legitimate debate over whether he would get into the first XI. That misses the point.
This season Jesse Lingard has played in 34 games for United. Andreas Pereira has also featured in 34 matches.
Van de Beek is younger than both players, and most would agree that he is a better player.
He is a more dangerous player offensively, as his goal record of 40 over the last three seasons shows. This is a trait United need, with neither Lingard or Pereira offering much threat when they have played.
Improving the squad
Van de Beek would provide the cover United need for Bruno Fernandes, and give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer better options to rotate the team.
He can also play a deeper central midfield role, which would have been useful in United’s mid-season injury crisis.
We saw Pereira play as a central midfielder on occasion in October and November, and it didn’t work.
Both Pereira and Lingard are fighting for their futures at the moment.
Since Bruno Fernandes’ arrival at the end of January, both Lingard and Pereira faced a battle just to make United’s matchday squad.
For the win over City at Old Trafford in early March, neither player made the 18.
While an upwards limit of 20 will help both players in the short-term, if United sign Van de Beek, the writing will be on the wall.
The Netherlands international can do everything Lingard and Pereira can do, and far more, plus he will arrive with fresh energy and ideas.
Considering the game time both players have had over the course of this season, there will be plenty of minutes for Van de Beek to go around, if United get the deal done.
- Forget Lewandowski, Man Utd can sign a younger alternative with big pedigree for free
- Five times David Beckham stole the show at the World Cup
- Man Utd are in talks to sign wonderkid defensive midfielder David Eze after leaving Man City
- Ben Foster claims one Marcus Rashford ‘problem’ is preventing Man Utd star from playing under Michael Carrick
- Gary Lineker shares what he honestly thinks about Harry Maguire being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad
- Manchester United’s £5bn bubble could burst at any moment – and the Glazers know it
- Man Utd in talks to sign Liverpool prospect amid double hint over possible transfer switch
- Manchester United takeover value revealed by finance expert amid Glazer sale talks
- Omar Berrada hints at the biggest challenge Michael Carrick faces next season at Man Utd
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
