Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has scored a coup with the impending transfer of Donny van de Beek from Ajax.
The Dutch playmaker had long been ticketed to Real Madrid and more recently looked up for a move to Barcelona and a reunion with former Netherlands national team coach Ronald Koeman.
Van de Beek is said to be having a medical in the Netherlands, according to Sky Sports, ahead of a $54 million move to Old Trafford. Sky Sports says Van de Beek will not need to self-isolate after Netherlands national team duty and can join United immediately.
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United moved into the headlines over the past few months and into the perceived lead as of Sunday. Ronald de Boer had said Solskjaer needs players like Van de Beek in a perceived shot at Paul Pogba.
In an odd bit of coincidence, Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar was teammates with Solskjaer at United from 2005-07.
Van de Beek was widely linked with Real but La Liga’s champions reportedly had money concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The center midfielder was expected to fetch Ajax as much as $65 million for a player who turned 23 in April and posted has 10 goals and 11 assists in 37 matches this season after registering 17 and 13 in 57 appearances in 2018-19.
Van de Beek has 10 caps for the Dutch, and has been atop the triangle of midfielders in Koeman’s 4-3-3. It could be a double pivot next to Paul Pogba, though the permutations of arranging Van de Beek, Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, and Scott McTominay would be a daydream for most managers.
For one who’s shown some struggles in big spots with his lineup, Solskjaer would have few excuses now.
Medicals ongoing right now for Donny Van de Beek as Manchester United player, confirmed (as reported by @MikeVerweij). He already had a direct talk also with Solskjaer and is ‘buzzing’ to join the club. 🔴 #MUFC #ManUtd #transfers
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2020