Big-money Man Utd FLOP to return to Ajax this summer

6 Apr 2023 16:48 BST
3 min read

Lisandro Martinez and Antony at Ajax — © ProShots

Donny van de Beek is set to return to Ajax from Manchester United this summer, according to reports.

The path from Ajax to Manchester United has become particularly well-trodden of late, with manager Erik ten Hag, World Cup-winning centre-back Lisandro Martinez and €100 million winger Antony all arriving in the last year.

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They were beaten to the club by Van de Beek in September 2020, with the Red Devils paying Ajax €39 million for his services, but to say his stay at Old Trafford hasn't worked out would be a gross understatement.

READ: Man Utd told Ajax signing 'one of the worst deals of the decade'

Van de Beek has only started six Premier League games for United since his arrival, and had an ill-fated spell on loan at Everton at the end of last season. But Ajax are now reportedly ready to end his English nightmare.

We now go live to Donny van de Beek: pic.twitter.com/WIGGHQ5IQn
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) April 21, 2022

Ajax want Donny

"Ajax are keen to bring Man United midfielder Donny van de Beek back to the club this summer," report Football Insider.

"It is believed that Man United would accept a bid of £25 million for Van de Beek after a disappointing three-year spell at the club."

READ: Who is Maurits Kjaergaard? The Danish wonderkid being lined up by Man Utd

Van de Beek suffered a season-ending knee injury in January, and United would do well to recoup that much for the midfielder who is now valued at €18.7m (£16.4m) pr FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

Van de Beek won the Dutch domestic treble under Ten Hag in 2019, but he has looked like a shadow of the player since, and the United boss failed to find space for him in his starting line-up even before his injury.

United could be set for a midfield overhaul this summer, meanwhile. Ten Hag's Ajax won using a 4-3-3 system, something he plans to implement at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes could be sacrificed with the system not having space for a No.10, while Red Bull Salzburg's Maurits Kjaergaard is the latest box-to-box player to be linked with a move to Man Utd.