Erik ten Hag has decided to launch a pursuit to sign one of his former Ajax players, with Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber likely to become one of his first signings at Manchester United.
The new United manager gave Timber his Eredivisie debut in March 2020, only for the versatile 20-year-old to play a key role in two league title triumphs. The Ajax academy graduate has since earned six caps for the Netherlands national team and should earn a spot in Louis van Gaal’s World Cup squad later this year.
According to the Guardian, United are in talks with Ajax to sign Timber but these meetings are at an initial stage, and the Dutch giants are understood to have offered Timber new terms to stay in Amsterdam.
The same report claims Ten Hag is also monitoring Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres. The 25-year-old Spaniard recently rubbished claims that a deal was close to being agreed with United, but everyone knows we’ve still some way to go in the transfer window before the new season kicks off.
A separate report from Voetball International claims Timber’s representative from the Forza Sports Group was spotted at 5 Stratton Street in Mayfair district of London, where Manchester United’s offices are based.
It is clear from this report that Ten Hag has identified our defense as the biggest weakness he wants to address first. I’ve always felt that some of the best teams were built from the back and it is definitely time for United to change their strategy in the transfer market.
Moreover, I really hope they don’t forget to address the problems in midfield because they’ve existed for too long.