Real Sociedad have confirmed their interest in Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek to the Basque media and are willing to sign the Premier League misfit either on loan or on a permanent basis.
After West Ham agreed a £30 million fee to sign Harry Maguire on Wednesday morning, the much-maligned former Old Trafford captain could kick-start a steady stream of departures during the final three weeks of the window.
Fred is unlikely to be too far behind; Fabrizio Romano hinting in less-than-subtle fashion that Manchester United’s new £64 million striker Rasmus Hojlund will be inheriting the Brazilian’s number 17 shirt.
Erik ten Hag will not stand in Donny Van de Beek’s way either; the £35 million benchwarmer failing to salvage his Manchester United career under a coach who took him to the brink of the Champions League final with Ajax back in 2019.
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Donny Van de Beek expected to leave Manchester United
Despite reported interest from clubs closer to home, Spain has emerged as the most likely destination for a footballer who could be revitalised in the slower, more technical La Liga game.
According to the BBC, talks between Man United and Real Sociedad are ongoing. What’s more, an ‘authorised voice’ speaking on behalf of the Basque club has now confirmed La Real’s interest to local publication Noticias de Gipuzkoa.
The Txuri-urdin are open to signing Van de Beek on a permanent basis. They would also be willing to green-light a season-long loan deal, albeit with an obligation-to-buy clause in the 26-year-old’s contract.
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Interestingly, Sociedad had initially targeted a temporary deal. But they appear to have warmed to a permanent option in recent weeks.
Harry Maguire kick-starting Old Trafford exits
Time will tell how much Man United want for Van de Beek. Like with Maguire, however, there is an acceptance that the Red Devils will have little choice but to accept a sizeable loss on a player who failed to live up to his hefty price-tag; the Daily Mail’s £25 million valuation feeling a little ambitious.
“In the end, it is about him playing football week-in, week-out,” United legend Jaap Stam tells Voetbal Nieuws. “Is he going to do that under Ten Hag at the moment? I don’t think so. That didn’t happen when he was fit!
“That’s a shame, because Donny is a good football player. However, the coach makes choices, and you have to dare to choose for yourself as a player.
“(Donny should think) ‘maybe I should make the move somewhere else so that I can play’.”