Should Manchester United Sign AFC Ajax’s Jurrien Timber?

Before signing Lisandro Martinez from Erik Ten Hag’s old club, AFC Ajax, Manchester United were pushing hard for Jurrien Timber.

It was until Louis van Gaal, the Netherlands coach at the time, intervened and came out publicly to say that Timber should remain at Ajax and develop there ahead of the winter World Cup.

The deal never happened and the Red Devils went on to sign Martinez ahead of Arsenal, which has proved to be a stellar signing and one that fans will talk about with praise for years to come.

However, reports have emerged once more that Manchester United are prepared to go back to Ten Hag’s former club and sign Timber. With two years left on his contract, the rumoured cost of the Dutch international is around £40 million.

Timber has come out to the media in the last week to mention that his transfer is close to completion as it looks ever so likely that he will depart Ajax this summer. While there is bound to be interest from elsewhere in Europe, the Premier
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League looks the favoured destination.

At Manchester United, the two premier centre halves are currently Raphael Varane and Martinez, with Victor Lindelöf and Harry Maguire used in rotation. With the England international drastically falling down the pecking order this season, it is to be believed that he will attempt to leave the club this summer, should Ten Hag sanction a proposed sale.

If this is to come to fruition, Manchester United will be looking to the summer market to bring in a centre back that can compete with Martinez and Varane. With the latter’s injury record speaking for itself, there is an ample opportunity for a player to come in and feature heavily given the fixture schedule going into next season.

One of Timber’s astute qualities is his ability to play in a variety of positions, just as ex-teammate Martinez is. The Dutch international’s primary position is centre back, but he is more than capable of filling in as a right back or even holding midfielder, should it be needed.

Long term, Ten Hag might just see a central defence partnership blossoming between Timber and Martinez, or reverting to a back three at times with Varane in the centre and the two ex-Ajax players flanking him either side.

Timber’s on-the-ball qualities and comfortability would be a huge bonus to how Manchester United play. By not being flustered in possession, Timber has a knack of beating the press and progressing Ajax up the pitch with ease – just as Martinez has shown for Manchester United this season, which is why he is such a miss when not in the team.

It is clear that Ten Hag wants more technical specialists in the team after adding Christian Eriksen, Antony and Martinez, with Timber being in a similar mould to those having grown up in the Ajax academy.

For versatility purposes and longevity – given Timber is only 21 – a proposed transfer of £40 million is increasingly attractive for Manchester United and will give Ten Hag a defender that can play in multiple areas and, eventually, make the right centre back position his own.