Man Utd revolution could evolve into the Dutch national team

Karan Tejwani

• Updated: 9 Jun 2022 00:49 BST
• 4 min read

Erik ten Hag’s arrival signalled the start of a new era at Manchester United, and the ex-Ajax boss has a huge task on his hands as he aims to rejuvenate the playing squad.

The Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League, barely scraping a spot in next season’s Europa League, and will have a busy summer as they look to build a team worthy of challenging the league’s best.

There have been several names linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent times, and there has been a common trend between them – they’re Dutch and play in a way that Ten Hag would appreciate.

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The name most constantly talked up as a potential option is Ajax’s Jurrien Timber, the centre-half who has earned plaudits from across Europe for his performances over the course of the season.

However, he isn’t the only one – Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has been named as a possible midfield option, while Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt is another option as well and so is Inter’s Denzel Dumfries.

Why has Ten Hag targeted so many Dutch stars?

It has been a theme that Ten Hag has targeted Dutch stars to aid his Manchester United rebuild and considering the talent coming out of the country in recent times, it’s not the worst idea.

Since missing out on the World Cup in 2018, there has been a major upturn in talent coming out of the Netherlands, and while Ajax have been at the forefront of that, others such as PSV, Feyenoord and AZ have followed too.

The method works – Ten Hag is well-versed in Dutch football, having been successful at clubs such as Go Ahead Eagles and Utrecht before Ajax, maintaining a strong Dutch core.

At Ajax, he had access to the finest talent in Dutch football, from De Ligt to De Jong, Donny van de Beek to Ryan Gravenberch and beyond.

Allowing him to continue that tried-and-tested method at Manchester United is a smart strategy as it brings knowledge and, more importantly, long-termism back to a club that has desperately lacked in recently.

The group linked with moves to Manchester United won’t be the last – there will be more in the future as their tactical acumen and football upbringing aligns well with the vision Ten Hag wants to bring to Old Trafford.

Players from outside Ajax, or those who didn’t have a connection with the Amsterdam side in the past, that have been linked with moves to United include Owen Wijndal and Tyrell Malacia, and that shows the level of talent brewing outside the Dutch champions.

There is a revolution at Manchester United, and there is a massive benefit that they’ve hired a manager who has experience in a country that started off on the same course a few years ago and are currently reaping the rewards of it.