Manchester United target playing alongside ‘garbage collectors’ blasts unimpressed pundit

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Manchester United transfer target Jurrien Timber is a shining light in a dismal Ajax season.

Over the weekend, Netherlands international Jurrien Timber revealed he is nearing a much anticipated transfer move.

Timber was linked with Manchester United strongly last summer, per The Guardian, before deciding to stay put at Ajax.

He told De Telegraaf: “A transfer is getting closer. There is lot of specific interest and I have made agreements with Ajax. Last summer, they asked me to renew and stay for one more season. I did this out of love for the club.”

Jurrien Timber’s Ajax falling apart

All is not well at Ajax. They have already lost out on the Eredivisie title they won regularly under Erik ten Hag, 11 point behind leaders Feyenoord. Defeat in the KNVB Cup Final at the weekend piled on the pain.

It is no wonder Timber is already plotting his escape route. Ajax have been blasted by Dutch legend Marco Van Basten, with the centre-back spared criticism.

Van Basten was quoted by Voetbal International: “I was watching Ajax and I thought: you have to be a damn good footballer to excel.

“Nothing and no one will help you. Someone like Timber is a good player, but he walks around with a bunch of garbage collectors, so he can’t play a normal ball anymore. The right back, the left back, the keeper or whatever is in front of him: it is very difficult to play football, you know.”

It seems Timber himself is already wishing he had better players alongside him, talking wistfully about better days with Manchester United fan favourite Lisandro Martinez.

He said: “I know how great it is to play alongside Lisandro, though my performances don’t depend on him only.

“We were amazing together, especially with communication. It doesn’t surprise me that he played so good for Manchester United before his injury.”

The Dutchman is expected to leave Ajax this summer, and it would not be at all surprising if he ended up being Harry Maguire’s replacement.

Having experienced life with Erik ten Hag, and then seen what it is like without him, you would think Timber would jump at the chance to join Manchester United, with The MEN reporting he remains a target for the club.