Sport has recently reported that Manchester United midfielder Donny Van de Beek is prepared to join Barcelona either on loan or permanently this summer. It has been revealed that the Red Devils midfield ace has been offered to the Catalan club but it remains to be seen whether Barca decide to turn their attention on the player in this off-season (via Sport).
Van de Beek’s Growing Frustrations At Manchester
Van de Beek endured a frustrating season at Old Trafford as he struggled to earn regular first-team starts under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tutelage over the past ten months. The 24-year-old participated in 36 matches for the Mancunian outfit last season, netting one goal and providing two assists in the process on all fronts.
Most of the Nijkerkerveen-born sensation’s appearances have come off the bench which explains why he only averaged 0.8 tackles, 0.2 key passes and 0.4 dribbles per game in the Premier League. However, he has been excellent when distributing possession from midfield after completing 86.1% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
The Dutch sensation has still got more than four years remaining in his Man United contract, so a loan move might be a more logical option for Barca to consider during this summer transfer window.
Should The Catalans Move In For Van de Beek This Summer?
Van de Beek is a moderately-paced midfielder who can make some smart runs with the ball when he is playing with confidence on the field. He showed during his time with Ajax that he can strike the ball with power and precision which makes him a goal-threat from long range. At 24, Van de Beek is about to enter the prime years of his playing career, so we can expect to play his best football in the coming seasons.
The 19-time Netherlands international can also set up some promising opportunities for his teammates to score in the final third. However, his time at the Theatre of Dreams has been far from convincing, to say the least.
Barca boss Ronald Koeman is in dire need to add more quality to his squad this summer, so Van de Beek could be a good signing for him but only on a loan deal this summer. The Dutch talent is a technically gifted footballer, so he will fit into Koeman’s playing style quite well at the Nou Camp.
Plus, Van de Beek could offer some serious competition for Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets for a place in Barcelona’s starting XI. Hence, it makes sense for the Catalan club to move in for the Netherlands international before the start of the new campaign as he could help them challenge across all competitions in the upcoming campaign.
