Manchester United have been reportedly interested in 3 players from Ajax this summer, as Ajax’s former boss Erik Ten Hag made the move to Manchester earlier this year. Ten Hag would like to reconnect with some of his former players and bring them to Manchester, but it seems harder and harder as time goes on.
The first player is 21-year-old Jurrien Timber, a Dutch international CB who has been great for Ten Hag’s Ajax over the last 2 seasons. Manchester United are in the market for a CB, with the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof struggling to put in good performances on a every week basis. The biggest issue this transfer ran into was Netherlands head coach Louis Van Gaal, who told Timber he wouldn’t guarantee him a spot in the World Cup squad if he made the move to Manchester United and didn’t play enough minutes.
Ajax’s new manager Alfred Schreuder spoke on the situation recently as well, and believes that Timber will be going nowhere. He spoke to ESPNnl and said:
“I have spoken with Jurrien and I am assuming he is staying at Ajax. … Timber is a smart guy and he knows what is best for himself. We think he is not done at Ajax yet.”
That being said, we move onto target number 2, who there may still be a chance he ends up a Manchester United player.
Antony, a 22-year-old Brazilian winger is another player than Erik Ten Hag wants to bring to Old Trafford, but Ajax are not keen on selling. Ajax’s new manager Alfred Schreuder also spoke on the Antony situation, saying that
“We want to keep Antony at Ajax. I want to work with him, and the club knows this”
It is reported that Antony’s camp has asked Ajax to at least listen to offers, the player wants the move to Manchester. Ajax refuse to sell for cheap, as reported by Fabrizio, Manchester United were looking to offer in the range of 40-45 million euros, but believes Ajax want around 80 million if they are going to sell the player. Antony had 8 goals and 4 assists in 23 Eredivisie games this season, and had 2 goal, 4 assists in 7 Champions League appearances as well.
Lets take a look now at Manchester United’s third Ajax target, another defensive player.
Lisandro Martínez, a 24-Year-Old Argentinian center-back who was also a key part of Erik Ten Hag’s Ajax squad. It is reported that Ajax have set a price tag of 50 or 60m euros for the young Argentinian, who Arsenal are now reportedly interested in as well. According to Fabrizio, Ajax “Really hope to keep Lisandro” at the club. Update from 6/27, A deal to Arsenal looks closer and closer as officially bids have been made.
Manchester United are once again failing to get anything done in the transfer market, and it is reported players like Cristiano Ronaldo are furious that no business is getting done. They have already let go of players like Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard on free transfers. Premier League rivals such as Manchester City and Liverpool are heavily improving their squads. Manchester City have gone out and already signed Erling Haaland from Dortmund, Kalvin Philips from Leeds United, Julian Álvarez from River Plate, and are close to signing Marc Cucurella from Brighton. Liverpool has signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica, Fabio Carvalho from Fulham, as well as Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen.
