In a recent interview with Fox NL (via The Daily Express), Ajax midfielder Donny Van de Beek has ruled out the possibility of leaving during the winter transfer period when he said,
“I can’t or don’t want to do anything with it anyway [rumours linking him to Manchester United].
“I have said before that I will play at Ajax this season. Maybe next season too.”
Manchester United have identified the Dutch Eredivisie star as a top midfield target for this January transfer window after they lost Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba to injury recently (via The Daily Express). Hence, the player’s comments will be a bitter pill to swallow for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as it could deter his quest to rebuild his squad this month. With just over a fortnight left before the ongoing transfer window slams shut, the Red Devils will be in a race against time to recruit players if they intend to challenge for a top 4 place towards the latter stages of this Premier League campaign.
What Makes Van De Beek Such A Highly Sought After Talent?
Van de Beek is currently playing some of the best football of his career after helping Ajax reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last season. He has continued with his good form this season helping his team win quite a few games in domestic competitions as well as in Europe.
The 22-year-old has featured in 26 matches for the Dutch giants this term, scoring eight goals while providing eight assists on all fronts. He has been a complete midfielder for both club and country this season after he averaged 1.7 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 1.7 shots, 1.7 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game across all competitions (stats via whoscored).
Van de Beek has made a name for himself for making driving runs towards the opposition penalty box. He has often enjoyed the freedom of expressing himself while operating as an attacking midfielder in the number ten position. The Dutch playmaker works hard for his team and excels at interchanging passes with others around him.
He has shown over the past couple of seasons that he can be a consistent goal-scorer and a persistent assist-maker going forward, which makes him such a highly sought after talent.
Missing Out On The Ajax Star: Big Blow For The Mancunian Giants?
Missing out on the Dutch rising star will be a huge blow for the Red Devils as he is precisely the type of midfielder who could have added some fresh ideas and much-needed quality to Solskjaer’s under-performing side. Now that Van de Beek has ruled out a move away from his homeland, Man United will have no choice but to look at other alternatives if they want to strengthen their squad this winter.
