Manchester United need to accept the risks that signing Jurrien Timber will pose because they would be getting a “very gifted” defender, one observer has said.
United have made the 20-year-old a firm centre-back target as they look to beef up their back line. Amid doubts over the futures of Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag wants help from his former club.
Ten Hag promoted Timber to the Ajax first team and he subsequently made 74 appearances for the Eredivisie club.
According to former Ajax man Marciano Vink, Timber would prove a perfect United signing.
He claimed that the player’s on-field attributes outweigh the risks of him being new to the Premier League.
“Timber, in my opinion, he’s a very gifted young player, he’s always comfortable on the ball,” Vink told ESPN.
“He’s a good defender but most of all he anticipates really well.
“Those kinds of players you need to bring in to Man Utd to get to a higher level. I know for England they’re not common or well-known names but you need to start playing football again.
“I have seen many matches of Man Utd and it was lacking pace, football, there were too many players satisfied playing for Man United and not eager to win, not eager to play for the club.
“[Ten Hag] has to change the behaviour, mentality in the club and it’s going to take a while.”
Timber has Man Utd doubts
While Ajax are not against selling their star defender, the player himself reportedly has doubts about the move to Old Trafford.
With captain Harry Maguire and four-time Champions League winner Raphael Varane the senior pairing, he is unsure how much game time he would get.
There are also concerns about the lack of Champions League football at United next season.
Following a sixth-placed finish, United are in next term’s Europa League. Ajax have dropped into the competition in two of the past three seasons after finishing third in their group.
In 2021/22, though, they made it to the last 16 of the Champions League and Timber wants another taste of premier European football.
Ten Hag has specific transfer desire
Timber is not the only star with Ajax connections that Ten Hag is trying to lure to his new club.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who swapped the Dutch giants for Barcelona in 2019, is also on his wish list.
Ten Hag is right to target the players he knows well from his time at Ajax. They can help the new manager hit the ground running, knowing exactly how to fit in.
And while Timber may struggle for game time at United, he has plenty of time to stamp his mark. He should be willing to bide his time, especially with United only going upwards from here.
