As reported by Sky Sports, Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan believes Liverpool sent scouts to watch over Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek this past season. Manchester United, Everton and Newcastle United are among the other clubs who are also monitoring the progress of the youngster this summer.
“He is a perfect backup for many clubs. He is not the No 1 for most clubs – I have seen scouts from Tottenham, Man United, Everton, Liverpool and Newcastle at Ajax Amsterdam Arena watching him a number of times.”, Van der Kraan said in regards to the possible interest surrounding van de Beek.
What can van de Beek bring to the table?
Van de Beek is advertised as a complete midfielder, who is capable of doing a bit of everything in the middle of the park. The 22-year-old is an excellent passer of the ball, though he mostly likes to provide forward passes rather than passing backwards and slow down play. This could make him an ideal fit for Liverpool, who like to play direct football under Jurgen Klopp.
One of van de Beek’s key asset as a midfielder is his ability to nestle through tight spaces. Indeed, the Dutchman can easily use his nifty footwork and evade the opposition press, after which, he is always on the lookout for a forward pass that could initiate an attacking move. He has averaged 1.2 key passes this past season.
Defensively, van de Beek is an excellent runner and has loads of stamina, which allows him to cover a lot of ground. The Ajax midfielder has averaged 1.5 tackles with a success rate of 75%. Also, he has averaged 0.8 interceptions and 0.6 clearances, which suggests that the midfielder is well aware of his defensive chores.
Should Liverpool make a move for van de Beek?
Van de Beek is a tailor-made fit for Klopp’s gegenpressing style of football given his aggression and willingness to win back possession for his team. He can also slot in as an attacking midfielder, meaning he could provide competition to the midfield duo of Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita.
The Dutchman could also be available on a lower fee when compared to his teammates like Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong. And at the age of 22, he could be a smart long-term investment for the Reds as they aim to push for the Premier League title next season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
