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Manchester United are set to sign their first player of the summer transfer window with a £ 40m capture from Ajax star Donny van de Beek nearing completion.
The Old Trafford club are hoping to close a deal for the midfielder in the coming days after being offered a five-year deal.
He was also heavily linked with Real Madrid before the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, but now seems ready to move on to the Premier League.
But where will the Dutch international fit in at United? Here, Sportsmail examines the options available to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he tries to build a team capable of competing for the Premier League title.
Manchester United set to complete £ 40m capture of Ajax star Donny van de Beek
The Dutch midfielder is a perfect fit in United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first eleven
Where would Van de Beek fit in at Manchester United?
Simply put, the 23-year-old plays in a position that for many would not have been a priority at the beginning of the transfer window.
But that doesn’t mean their signing doesn’t come with a host of advantages that could be used to United’s advantage in Solskjaer’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba formed an excellent understanding in United’s midfield after the Premier League restart in June.
The versatile Van de Beek, described as a classic box-to-box midfielder, is almost certain to enter that trio of midfielders now as a player who can operate in a center or attacking role.
The 23-year-old could operate a midfield two with Paul Pogba with Bruno Fernandes as number 10
Nemanja Matic could therefore be the biggest victim of the Dutchman’s arrival, with Van de Beek more than capable of playing the creative outlet on a pivot, with Pogba functioning in his usual box-to-box role and with Fernandes playing as the number 10.
While he also possesses the ability to play anywhere in the middle, the Dutch international could be the link between defense and front line, as well as the man to upset top defenders by making late runs into the box to score goals himself. .
He managed to score 10 times in all competitions last season, including eight in the Eredivisie and one each in the Champions League and Europa League, and could therefore improve United’s productivity in attacking areas.
The Dutchman scored 10 goals and registered 11 assists for the Eredivisie team last season
So why did United decide to sign him?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is well aware that a fantastic first eleven will not be enough to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League this season.
The Norwegian will expect younger stars like Mason Greenwood to drop at some point this season and is one of the many reasons United have publicly sought the signing of Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
Whether Sancho will finish at Old Trafford before the October 5 deadline has yet to be officially decided, but regardless, Van de Beek adds some much-needed team depth at United.
Serbia’s Nemanja Matic could be the biggest victim of Van de Beek’s arrival at Old Trafford
Age is not on Matic’s side, as the Serbian turned 32 in early August, while persistent ankle injuries prevented Pogba from having a strong turnout last season, particularly in the first half of the campaign.
Fred and academy graduate Scott McTominay have shown in flashes that they are capable of being part of the Solskjaer team, but currently lack the consistency to become regulars.
With a strong roster of matches in all competitions in a short span of time this season, Solskjaer will need to keep his legs fresh in midfield and with Champions League experience under his belt, Van de Beek appears to be a midfielder to whom they cannot afford to convert. down.
The 23-year-old could also ease the physical demand on United star Paul Pogba
Could you ease the burden on Pogba and Fernandes?
Definitely, and the statistics from his last season in his native Netherlands before it was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic seem to back it up.
Possessing incredible versatility, he pulled off 11 assists for Ajax last season, and with United often too reliant on Fernandes for creativity, Van de Beek appears to be the perfect player to help the club’s trio of deadly forward.
Of those assists, five came in last season’s Eredivisie, in which the 23-year-old created six scoring chances for his teammates in 23 games.
Van de Beek has even received praise from former Arsenal and Netherlands player Dennis Bergkamp in the past as a stamp of approval.
United will also have another creative outlet in addition to the signing of January star Bruno Fernandes
When Frank de Boer became Ajax boss in 2010, Bergkamp, promoted to assistant, spoke to him almost immediately about Van de Beek: “Dennis started talking enthusiastically about a talent on his youth team.
‘He was a kid who reminded Dennis of himself at that age. That was the signal for me to keep an eye on that guy. That was Donny.
However, since you will likely be given a central role, you will be asked to work the other way around, but you seem to excel in that area as well.
According to Whoscored.com, Van de Beek averaged two tackles per game in the Eredivisie.
Van de Beek has already shown his talents to the English opposition this season at Chelsea
That figure is the same as Matic’s in the Premier League last season and he should fear that United could easily be exposed at the rear before next season.
Thus, Van de Beek looks extremely competent and can help United’s defense by sitting down and placing the hard graft when necessary.
A complete midfielder who has already proven his talents against English rivals Chelsea and Tottenham in the last two Champions League campaigns, Van de Beek looks set to be a success in the Premier League.
