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Ajax and Netherlands midfielder Donny Van De Beek has been linked with a move abroad to a bigger club for some time, and now club CEO and Manchester United legend Edwin Van Der Sar has named the Red Devils alongside Real Madrid as potential suitors. Van De Beek made a name for himself alongside his teammates during a brilliant run to the Champions League Semi-Final last season, as well as winning back to back Eredivisie titles. He’s been one of the most sought after young midfielders in Europe for nearly a year now.
Some of the biggest news outlets in the Netherlands have been linking Van De Beek with a move away from Ajax, and the link between Ed Woodward and Van Der Sar has been cited as a part of the reason why.
The communication between #mufc and Ajax is clear. Their CEO Edwin van der Sar is close with Ed Woodward #mulive [ad]
— utdreport (@utdreport) June 7, 2020
Edwin van der Sar (Ajax CEO): "It’s clear that clubs like Real Madrid and #mufc are showing interest in Donny van de Beek." #mulive [nos]
— utdreport (@utdreport) June 7, 2020
These sort of rumors don’t always mean a deal between clubs is in place, but there is a promising connection between Ajax and United. However, last season United missed out on both Van De Beek and Matthijs De Ligt, so it’s also likely that Ajax are driving up the price of their players with rumors such as this one. Real Madrid — Van De Beek’s most heavily rumored destination — are reported to have their transfer plans severely limited by the coronavirus-related shutdown, and Van Der Sar’s latest comments could be an attempt to spur Los Blancos into action.
Van De Beek was linked with United last summer as well, though Ajax were able to hang on to him and Chelsea-bound Hakim Ziyech for another season. Van De Beek’s creativity and enterprising midfield play have stuck out at Ajax, and having just turned 23 he’s at just the right age for big clubs to make a move for an already developed midfielder.
United’s move for Bruno Fernandes makes a move for Van De Beek seem a bit odd, though perhaps Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning for either an attack-heavy midfield or life without Paul Pogba, who still has not worked out a new contract to stay with United beyond 2021. Either way, there would be no objection from fans to add another talented midfielder to the squad, and Van De Beek still has some room to grow too.