Donny Van De Beek

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Unless De Telegraaf report on this, I wouldn't believe this story.

But if we did sign him I would think he would be deployed in a pivot with Pogba pushed forward. VDB is a versatile player and would at the very least become a strong squad player but £50m is too high a price for him imo.
 

ColvaleGoa

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So obvious this a brief from Woody after another low moment.
Of course , Woodward got it spot on. Lose and we will throw the baying crowd some crumbs. Keep this going till end of window and say No Value or we haven't had the feedback from our 789th Scout..so not happening. It's Deja feckin vu
 

Nou_Camp99

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Can't imagine a player like him wanting to join us. Ajax are a possession based side with great technical ability. He'd lose his marbles with some of the dross we've got who can't pass a ball 10 yards.
 

Lash

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Unless De Telegraaf report on this, I wouldn't believe this story.

But if we did sign him I would think he would be deployed in a pivot with Pogba pushed forward. VDB is a versatile player and would at the very least become a strong squad player but £50m is too high a price for him imo.
There was something on twitter saying a telegraaf journo said about it on a football programme, but can't seem to find it anywhere.
 

theklr

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Can't imagine a player like him wanting to join us. Ajax are a possession based side with great technical ability. He'd lose his marbles with some of the dross we've got who can't pass a ball 10 yards.
But that dross is what he will replace.

And you would think he would like to play alongside Pogba, Rashford and Martial while earning 3x the money he does now.

Stop with the gloom and doom already.
 

Nou_Camp99

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But that dross is what he will replace.

And you would think he would like to play alongside Pogba, Rashford and Martial while earning 3x the money he does now.

Stop with the gloom and doom already.
Honestly? No I think he'd sooner stay at Ajax and wait for a better opportunity personally. Fans still think we're this fantastic club who everyone would join at the drop of a hat. We're not even a CL regular anymore let alone a title challenger. The doom and gloom is very real. Accept it.
 

Sjaakmeoff

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Honestly? No I think he'd sooner stay at Ajax and wait for a better opportunity personally. Fans still think we're this fantastic club who everyone would join at the drop of a hat. We're not even a CL regular anymore let alone a title challenger. The doom and gloom is very real. Accept it.
hmm, don't know. Although he's high on Real Madrid's list, i would like to see him in the PL. Has the lungs for it and i think i read an interview where he stated he would like to play in the PL.

Don't expect much fancy stuff from him. He's a master in creating spaces for other players and always seems to be in the right place to score. Less visible than Frenkie de Jong, Ziyech or Tadic, but he's very important to Ajax.

edit: this interview:
 

Yagami

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I don't rate him, personally. When I watched Ajax last year, Blind, Tadic and de Jong were the only ones that I found impressive. Ziyech was alright, too.

This guy reminds me of McTominay. A lot of huffing and puffing with little quality on the ball.
 

Jibbs

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He is someone whose right place is the playmaking role. Needs a coach who can transform him in that role like Real did with Modric and Kroos.
 

Rozay

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As a squad option, fair enough, but he’s one of those midfielders that still leave the midfield area empty. Personally, I don’t want us to sign any big money player we would not be targeting if this were the summer anyway.

In midfield, we need a proper midfielder. Someone who is involved with all phases of the play. Not a finisher from midfield, someone who gets on the ball regularly and affects the game. We need more first XI quality in the middle, otherwise the meat and bones of the team’s play will still be going via Scott McTominay. For me, it’s either Fred + Another + Pogba or Fred + 2 if Pogba goes.
 

RUCK4444

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Can't imagine a player like him wanting to join us. Ajax are a possession based side with great technical ability. He'd lose his marbles with some of the dross we've got who can't pass a ball 10 yards.
I tend to agree. Although would like to see him with perhaps an in-form Fred and Pogba, do you think that would be a functional midfield? All three are pretty combative and can play a nice forward ball.
 

GazTheLegend

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Honestly? No I think he'd sooner stay at Ajax and wait for a better opportunity personally. Fans still think we're this fantastic club who everyone would join at the drop of a hat. We're not even a CL regular anymore let alone a title challenger. The doom and gloom is very real. Accept it.
Oh my word.

Get a grip.

We are 5th and still in every competition far as I can see it. Plenty of reasons to join Man Utd still
 

harms

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He is someone whose right place is the playmaking role. Needs a coach who can transform him in that role like Real did with Modric and Kroos.
What? When did he show any of the relevant skills to be considered a playmaker?

What is he? A box to box CM or a number 10?
More of a Ramsey (or Lampard if we're going a bit further back). A very mobile and smart player with decent technique & goalscoring instinct, but not really a number 10, even though he plays in the hole. He helps a lot to creative players around him though. Ole probably sees the same kind of player in Jesse, but Van de Beek is, you know, actually good at football.
 

dutchred

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He's not good enough. He looked OK last year in a fabulous Ajax team. This year he has been very average. I would rather get Ziyech from Ajax. He can play as a10 or a right winger. On the right he has more in his game to open up packed defences than James. Also his work rate has increased since he first came to Ajax
 

Stadjer

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What is he? A box to box CM or a number 10?
He can play at 10 but doesnt really play there. He is also mentioned that he could replace Frenkie de Jong as the midfielder closest to the defense. He can do it all to a fairly good level. His main quality and for what he is usually praised is his running without the ball. He knows when to make a run and arrive in the box to score a goal. I guess box to box CM is a better description as number 10.

He would improve the Manchester United midfield if he plays like he does for Ajax but that is also because the Manchester United midfield is really bad (certainly without Pogba). For our national team he usually isnt that good because our national team doesnt have someone like Ziyech who finds him after he made a run. If he signed for Manchester United than only Pogba would be able to make the passes so his main quality can be used. He is a decent player but i dont think he is worldclass and will transform the midfield for example.
 

Judas

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He wouldn't sort us out if he was the only signing, but there's not really a single one person that can. But in addition to others? Obviously he'd be an improvement.
 

TheReligion

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Can't imagine a player like him wanting to join us. Ajax are a possession based side with great technical ability. He'd lose his marbles with some of the dross we've got who can't pass a ball 10 yards.
How do you propose we improve the team then? You sound a bit cowardly to me.
 

DRM

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Would be a colossal upgrade on Lingard. Get him, ziyech and a solid CM and we;re talking!
 

JoaquinJoaquin

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He is a good player, but in the Fred caliber for me. Never be world class, but he is what he is, and that is much better than the likes of Pereira, Mata, Lingard etc.

It's all rubbish anyways. No chance in hell of this happening.
 

Jibbs

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What? When did he show any of the relevant skills to be considered a play-maker?
He has played in DMC role this season, also a player shows by his intelligence on the pitch that he can play in that play-making position.
 

Van Piorsing

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He was there for the taking in summer and Madrid didn't decide to get him after all, while United made 180 degree to signing Eriksen / Dybala.

Just how long does it take to finally indentify someone and send an actual offer ? This lad should be on the list long time ago... perhaps it's just another player we'll ignore, right mr. Woodward ?
 

Raven

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As a squad option, fair enough, but he’s one of those midfielders that still leave the midfield area empty. Personally, I don’t want us to sign any big money player we would not be targeting if this were the summer anyway.

In midfield, we need a proper midfielder. Someone who is involved with all phases of the play. Not a finisher from midfield, someone who gets on the ball regularly and affects the game. We need more first XI quality in the middle, otherwise the meat and bones of the team’s play will still be going via Scott McTominay. For me, it’s either Fred + Another + Pogba or Fred + 2 if Pogba goes.
I disagree that he would be a squad option because he's a better player than his technical ability (which is still good) would suggest. But even if you're right, he's a midfielder and might be available now, we'd be mental not to get him in.
 

Wednesday at Stoke

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Him and Ziyech would be a solid statement of intent for the rest of the season. The team might still concede a lot without a proper DM but at least 4-3 wins are a lot more fun than 2-0 losses to the likes of Watford.