Manchester United have held talks to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
The Lowdown: Ten Hag meeting
Erik ten Hag has already made a head start when it comes to summer transfer business at Old Trafford, holding a meeting in Amsterdam last week.
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He has now terminated his Ajax contract six weeks early in order to get going in England, with Timber seemingly a player of interest. The 20-year-old appears to be at the top of his game, with a career-high £27m Transfermarkt valuation, and he was a regular in Ten Hag’s Eredivisie-winning team.
Timber has made 74 senior appearances for Ajax and is entering the final two years of his contract, and it looks as if United are making their move for his services.
The Latest: Plettenberg’s update on Timber
Sky Sports reporter Plettenberg provided an ‘update’ regarding Timber, who is also of interest to Bayern Munich, on Monday afternoon.
He claimed (via Twitter) that the 20-year-old could join Ten Hag at Old Trafford after ‘talks’ with his ‘management’ took place. United’s interest is reported as ‘serious’, although Bayern have made an enquiry of their own for the centre-back.
The Verdict: Needed?
United have had their struggles at the back this season, with just seven other Premier League teams conceding more goals than the Red Devils' tally of 56. They shipped four last time out against Brighton, so a defensive rebuild could be of real interest to Ten Hag over the coming months.
His Ajax side conceded just 19 times in the Eredivisie this season, 15 fewer than the next-best defence in the division, with Timber playing a vital role in that impressive record.
Therefore, he could be a good addition in both the short- and long-term at Old Trafford, and you’d like to think that Timber will get even better over the coming years.
In other news: Man Utd now eyeing move for ‘absolutely lethal’ Bundesliga star. Read more here