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Manchester United recently concluded the recruitment of Donny van de Beek from Dutch Ajax for an initial fee of € 39 million plus € 5 million in add-ons. His arrival is expected to improve the overall quality of United’s midfield.
Having joined Ajax at the young age of eleven, he honed his skills at one of the best academies in the world and learned from some of the best technical players in the game. Despite being a relatively young weapon, he has a lot of experience under his belt and the Red Devils have found gold by putting it into their arsenal.
SWOT analysis on the last summer signing of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Donny van de Beek
Strengths
Donny van de Beek, capable of playing any role in a three-man midfield, is a versatile player known primarily for his ability to hold and distribute the ball. He thrives on the hunger to put pressure on opposition players whenever possession is wasted, which was a hallmark of the entire Ajax team he was a part of.
Due to his cunning, he is always difficult to mark or hold off and his penetrating runs from deep areas allow him to unlock opponents’ defenses. The 23-year-old generally dominates the midfield with remarkable ease and protects the baseline with his unyielding stamina.
Time after time, he hits flawless tackles and reads the game well to make sure he’s in the right place at the right time to intercept danger. Honestly, his intelligence belies his age, and watching him make quick transitions from defense to attack is something fans will look forward to as the weeks go by.
Weaknesses
One of Donny van de Beek’s main shortcomings is that he is not the fastest. Although he thrives on positional awareness and quick thinking, his lack of pace could hamper his influence in a game, particularly when Manchester’s red half face a series of fast-paced opposition in England.
The animosity the Premier League offers is second to none and given that it is one of the most physically demanding leagues, van de Beek might have a hard time adjusting initially. He is not the most robust player and will need protection in the midfield from other players as he settles in his new environment.
Opportunities
While Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood found the back of the net regularly for Manchester United during the 2019-20 campaign, there was a shortage of goals from their midfielders and this problem could be solved with the acquisition of van de Beek.
Bruno Fernandes’ prowess in taking penalties has masked the problem to some extent, but the new signing is expected to contribute in the goal department.
The Dutchman scored 8 goals and 5 assists in 23 Eredivisie appearances last season and Ole expects him to match those numbers, at the very least.
Threats
Getting acclimated to the Premier League is one of the toughest processes in the game and since van de Beek has played all of his football in the Netherlands, he faces a daunting task to prepare in time, especially given the shortened preseason.
Manchester United remain one of the biggest clubs in Europe and there will be immense pressure on Van de Beek’s tender shoulders. In addition, the high price that has been deployed to secure your signature means that there will be countless eyes to scrutinize your movement from day one.
Stat Credits: WhoScored
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