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Manchester United 'push ahead' for £35m Jurrien Timber as first Erik ten Hag signing - report
Manchester United are “pushing ahead” to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and make new manager Erik ten Hag’s first signing according to The Mirror.
The club are reportedly targeting a number of signings to facilitate a major overhaul under the Dutchman, after missing out on the Champions League.
Timber is primarily a centre-back but can play on the right, and was “instrumental” to ten Hag winning the Eredivisie this season.
The 20-year-old is expected to cost around £35million and the Red Devils are set on completing a move.
Speaking about bringing players from his former side to Old Trafford ten Hag has said, via The Mirror: “I think all the top clubs in Europe have Timber in their sights. But I think that applies to a lot of Ajax players at the moment.”
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United have struggled defensively this year, despite signing Real Madrid’s French World Cup winner Raphael Varane last summer, with club captain Harry Maguire coming in for particular criticism.
Timber is certainly the profile of player that is needed in Manchester, having already established himself as a Dutch international with six caps at the age of 20.
His familiarity with ten Hag has to be a bonus in terms of his chances of settling in the Premier League as quickly as possible.
After making his first team debut in the Ajax side in early 2020, Timber has become a key performer at the Johan Cruyff Arena, making 73 appearances in all competitions over the past two seasons.
Eurosport name the youngster as “one of Europe’s most in-demand defenders” so if United are successful with the talks they are reportedly in it has to be considered a boost after a disappointing season.
With one game left in the season they have already conceded 56 league goals, far more than any other side in the top six, and surpassed only by Leicester City in the top half with 57.
In other Manchester United news, the club wants young striker Hugo Ekitike.