Manchester United are the favorite to land Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, sources told ESPN.
– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN + (US only)
The 23-year-old played for Ajax in the preseason but was excluded from the squad for a friendly with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Manager Erik ten Hag admitted that the move was linked to developments in the player’s future.
ESPN first signaled United’s interest in Van de Beek – who still has a two-year contract with Ajax – in January.
The Dutch international had been linked to a move to Barcelona in recent weeks to join his former national team manager Ronald Koeman.
However ESPN understands that this is not an option, with United in the front row to complete a deal.
In June, Ajax manager – and former Manchester United goalkeeper – Edwin van der Sar admitted that Van de Beek was a goal for the Premier League club.
The energetic box-to-box midfielder was close to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019.
.
