Manchester United agree to sign Donny van de Beek for £39.3m
Manchester United have agreed to sign Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek for 44million euros (£39.3million).
Talks have escalated quickly over the weekend after the 23-year-old was withdrawn from the Ajax squad which was due to play Eintracht Frankfurt in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Ajax coach Erik ten Haag claimed the omission was linked to Van de Beek’s future and United have now pressed ahead with a formal bid on Sunday to try and ensure other club do not come in for the player.
Telegraph Sport understands that personal terms have already been agreed with the Dutch international who is expected to undergo a medical this week ahead of signing a five-year deal at the Premier League club.
United have tracked Van de Beek for some time and, it appears, have been given a ‘free run’ at signing him after Barcelona and Real Madrid – who have also been linked with Real even holding preliminary talks – did not step up their interest. Tottenham Hotspur have also shown interest but did not make a bid.
The coronavirus pandemic has cooled Real’s interest while the turmoil and financial constraints at Barcelona, under new head coach Ronald Koeman, has complicated any move there for the time being.
Van de Beek will become United’s first signing of this transfer window and is expected to form a midfield triumvirate with Paul Pogba, who has indicated he is willing to sign a new contract and is awaiting the club’s response, and Bruno Fernandes.
Although Van de Beek, a product of the Ajax academy, can play as a box-to-box midfielder – and scored 10 goals in 37 appearances for Ajax last season – it would therefore be expected he would take a deeper role at United should Pogba stay.
In May the Ajax chief executive – and former United goalkeeper – Edwin van der Sar confirmed that Van de Beek would be allowed to leave the club if a suitable offer was made.
United’s interest in Van de Beek does not mean they will not press ahead with plans to try and sign a right-sided forward having, so far, been frustrated in their efforts to bring in England international Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
The fee for Van de Beek includes add-ons although they are not expected to be difficult to reach. It is understood that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has pushed hard for the signing which should be completed in the next few days.
