Real Sociedad appear to have ruled out a move for Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek as the Premier League giants look to cash in on the seldom-seen Dutchman.
Just 72 hours ago, it seemed as if Erik ten Hag’s transfer kitty was about to be boosted by three high-profile departures.
Eric Bailly was on his way to Besiktas. West Ham saw their bid ‘accepted’ for Harry Maguire. And Donny van de Beek was in talks to leave Manchester United for Real Sociedad.
Since then, Besiktas appear to have got cold feet; head coach Senol Gunes expressing his concerns over Bailly’s potential arrival. The Sun report that Maguire is yet to give West Ham the green light.
And with Sociedad now set to sign Dynamo Moscow’s Arsen Zakharyan instead for a fee in the region of £10 million, La Real president Jokin Aperribay has all-but closed the door on Van de Beek.
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Man United suffer Donny van de Beek sale blow
“We are still working on (signing Zakharyan),” Apperibay tells El Desmarque.
“I don’t think we will sign more midfielders (after Zakharyan). We have youngsters in whom we trust a lot and we have a commitment (in them) at home. Real is not thinking of signing two midfielders.
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“At no time has that been on the table. There are many youngsters who have done very well, and are going to do very well in the first-team.
“The youngsters are going to be present and future at Real.”
‘A shame’
Van de Beek was a key player under Ten Hag at Ajax; shining alongside Matthijs de Ligt, Dusan Tadic, Frenkie de Jong and co as the Amsterdam giants came within touching distance of the Champions League final in 2019.
His hopes of a glorious reunion at Old Trafford, however, have been scuppered by injury and the remarkable consistency of Bruno Fernandes. Van de Beek started only two Premier League games in 2022/23.
“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’.”