Erik ten Hag is reportedly keen on taking Ajax Amsterdam youngster Jurrien Timber with him to Manchester United.
According to De Telegraaf, Erik ten Hag is keen to take 20-year-old Ajax Amsterdam defender Jurrien Timber with him to Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Dutch tactician is the front-runner to land the permanent manager’s gig at Old Trafford. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earlier this season but will make way for a permanent appointment once the 2021/22 campaign ends.
Should ten Hag take the Manchester United job, he will have a huge challenge on his hands to awaken a sleeping giant. Transfer plans appear to be taking shape in the 52-year-old’s head as he is keen to take Timber with him.
The 20-year-old defender came through the ranks at Feyenoord before moving to Ajax in 2014. He initially spent time with the club’s youth setup before making a name for himself at the senior level. A full international with the Netherlands, he appears to have a bright future ahead of him.
Replacing Matthijs de Ligt in the Ajax defence was no mean feat, but Timber has done a commendable job to his credit. A physical presence at the back, the 20-year-old is an excellent tackler of the ball. More so, he is also adept with the ball at his feet and can play out from the back.
While there are certain chinks to be worked on, Timber’s potential is clear for all to see, and he can develop into a top-class centre-back in the years to come. He is also capable of playing on either flank as a full-back. This versatility will certainly offer ten Hag more options at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have gone big to land Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane in recent transfer windows. The duo, however, has failed to click and has been privy to several gaffes all season. Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly add strength in numbers but are little better themselves.
Adding Timber into the mix is unlikely to be an immediate solution. The youngster still has much to prove and will need to be handled properly. Given time and the right guidance, he could develop into the defensive mainstay that the Manchester United faithful have been crying out for.
A lot will depend on whether ten Hag does eventually take over at Old Trafford. With Timber’s contract expiring in 2024, it remains to be seen whether Ajax will be open to selling him to Manchester United come summer.
