United set to sign Van de Beek

Having stalled for weeks on any transfer activity, it appears as though Manchester United are close to unveiling Donny Van de Beek after agreeing a €40m deal for the midfielder. United have been scouting him for several months with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly a big fan.

Barcelona had been favourites to sign him but reports suggest United have swooped in and got the deal done quickly, with the close relationship with their CEO, Edwin Van der Sar, helping matters. The Spanish side’s preoccupation with sorting out the Lionel Messi situation, as well as needing to sell squad players before having the funds for Van de Beek, has also made things easier for us..

Reporter Fabrizio Romano claims that Van de Beek has already agreed personal terms with the club and that the board will sort out the paperwork, including scheduling the medical, at the beginning of next week.

Van de Beek is a boyhood Ajax fan and joined the club when he was 11. He became a regular in the first team three years ago and has contributed his fair share of goals and assists since then.

“It is not that I can or want to do something at the moment,” Van de Beek told FOX Sports Netherlands in January. “I have said it before, and I will say it again: I will remain at Ajax this season. And maybe next season as well. These reports about Real Madrid or Man United are a good sign, but it is not important now. I’ve said I will stay at Ajax and I will do so for 100 per cent.”

He was left out of Ajax’s squad for the Dutch champions’ friendly with Eintracht Frankfurt when it became clear that a transfer was imminent.