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Jurrien Timber 'will not be joining Manchester United this summer'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 19 June 2022

Jurrien Timber 'will not be joining Man United this summer'

Manchester United will not be signing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber this summer, according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

Manchester United will not be signing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber during this summer's transfer window, according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

The 21-year-old was a key player for Erik ten Hag at Ajax last season, and there have been claims that the Dutchman is determined to bring the defender with him to Old Trafford.

Man United were believed to be making strong progress on a £30m deal for the centre-back, who featured on 43 occasions for his Amsterdam club last term, contributing three goals and two assists.

However, a recent report claimed that Timber had rejected the chance to move to Man United, as he felt that joining the 20-time English champions was too risky at this stage of his career.

According to Van der Kraan, Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has played a key role in the Ajax youngster deciding to reject a switch to Old Trafford.

Netherlands and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber pictured in June 2021 © Reuters

"Absolutely dead in the water. The player I think was ready to come, his agents went over to London, to Manchester United's officers two weeks ago, had very good talks. The money was never a problem," Van der Kraan told Sky Sports News.

"But then one man turned up, Louis van Gaal. He told the player in the Dutch camp, look if you go there I think your chances could be limited for playing for Holland in the World Cup three months later.

"Now for Jurrien Timber, a great Ajax style player, a ten Hag style player, that was a bit of a blow. Louis Van Gaal made it clear that he would not be in his Dutch team if he was playing every week for United."

Van Gaal managed Man United between 2014 and 2016, leading the club to the 2015-16 FA Cup before his departure, while he joined Netherlands for a third spell at the helm in 2021.

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal pictured on September 1, 2021 © Reuters

"In the end, my gut feeling will be the deciding factor," De Telegraaf recently quoted Timber as saying when asked about his future. "The picture has to be right.

"You can go to a big club. But if you're not going to play there it's better to stay with Ajax. And Ajax is also a big club. We play football in the Champions League and I play there together with the best players in the Netherlands. That is not nothing.

"Of course, I can develop further [at Ajax]. I am 100% sure of that. I don't feel like I'm done at the club. But I can also develop at other clubs. I am now focusing on the upcoming international matches and then go on holiday. Then I'll have to think about it some more."

The defender has made 74 appearances for the Amsterdam giants in all competitions, contributing four goals and two assists in the process.

Timber's ability to play right-back is believed to have appealed to Man United, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka potentially leaving the club this summer, but the Red Devils could now be forced to look elsewhere, with Villarreal's Pau Torres also believed to be a leading target.