Selhurst Park, London, Britain - January 18, 2023. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag before the match.
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Ajax teenager Amourricho van Axel Dongen, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Lowdown: Business under Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has enjoyed a positive first season at Old Trafford, ending the club’s six year wait for a trophy by winning the Carabao Cup last month.
He has been backed in the transfer window by those at the top, with big-money moves for Casemiro and former Ajax stars Antony and Lisandro Martinez. In total, United have spent €243m (£213m) under Ten Hag, and it looks as if this summer could be just as expensive ahead of his second season in charge.
Reports have suggested that Ten Hag and United have made a new forward and midfielder their transfer priority, with Victor Osimhen, Harry Kane, Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham named as potential targets.
None of those players would come cheap, but it looks as if the ed Devils are eyeing a cut-price move for Van Axel Dongen.
The Latest: Van Axel Dongen rumours
Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update on Van Axel Dongen, where United were named. The transfer expert said that the Red Devils ‘are one of the clubs informed on the situation’ regarding the youngster as a ‘potential free agent’.
He added that ‘Ten Hag knows him’, however, Ajax have offered him a new deal until 2027, although there is still no full agreement.
The Verdict: One to watch?
Van Axel Dongen is primarily a left-winger who is the current captain of Ajax’s U21 side and is already sponsored by Adidas. The 18-year-old actually shares the same agency as United players Luke Shaw and Anthony Elanga and has made three senior appearances for Ajax this season, registering one assist.
The Sun have described Van Axel Dongen as a ‘wonder kid’ and he appears to be a star in the making, so could be a shrewd signing in a cut-price transfer.
He turned down a move to Chelsea back in 2020, so the possibility of United securing his services over the coming months is an exciting one, with Ten Hag knowing the player from his time at the club.
Should a move materialise, United may look to use him sparingly in the first-team to start with, especially due to the club’s plethora of senior wide options, with Van Axel Dongen potentially gaining most of his minutes in the U21s or even out on loan, making this one to watch.
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