Why Manchester United should go all out to sign Donny van de Beek

According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are considering a move for Ajax’s highly-rated midfielder Donny van de Beek.

The Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to add players to his squad this month and he is hopeful that his club would reach an agreement for the Ajax midfielder, claims The Telegraph.

Van de Beek, 22, played a key role in Ajax’s march to the Champions League semi-finals and a Dutch league and cup double last season. He has 8 goals and 5 assists in 26 matches this term. The midfielder, who has been a regular fixture in Erik Ten Haag’s side, is likely to cost at least £50million, adds the report.

Having said that, should Manchester United splash £50million to sign Van de Beek this month? Without any second thoughts, they must go all out for the Ajax star to solve their midfield conundrum.

The midfield has to be prioritised by Solskjaer, especially with Scott McTominay likely to be out until the end of February and Paul Pogba not due back before next month after ankle surgery. Injuries to McTominay and Pogba have left the United boss with just Fred and Nemanja Matic as the only two available central midfielders in the squad.

The chastening 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the first leg of EFL Cup semi-finals at Old Trafford on Tuesday further demonstrated the Red Devils’ need for midfield reinforcements. Thus, bringing in someone like Van de Beek certainly makes sense.

Van de Beek appeared in 57 matches for the Dutch side last season, finding the back of the net on 17 occasions while creating 13 assists on all fronts. He has also been among the goals and assists this season as well, so there’s no doubting his ability to create and score goals.

The Netherlands international loves the freedom to operate as a box-to-box midfielder and is capable of making some dangerous runs from the midfield. 

He excels at interchanging plays with others around him at Ajax and is not shy of expressing himself in the final third either. Van de Beek is tactically versatile and will add the much-needed cutting edge to United’s attack.

The acquisition of a creative player of Van de Beek’s ilk will undoubtedly improve Solskjaer’s midfield options at Old Trafford. At 22, he is not the finished product and has a long way to go in order to fulfil his true potential.

In the video below, one could get a glimpse of the Dutchman’s style of play and the qualities he could bring to the Red Devils if a move goes through.

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Verdict

Van de Beek’s workhorse attitude coupled with his technical abilities and hunger to improve will serve him well at United if Solskjaer can find a way to land him this month. Signing him would turn Man United’s midfield into one of England’s best.