Manchester United podcaster Mark Goldbridge isn’t concerned with the doubts surrounding Jurrien Timber’s potential move to Old Trafford.
Journalist Jonathan Shrager revealed on Twitter last month that United were the frontrunners in the race to land the 20-year-old Ajax centre-back, who starred under new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag in the Dutch capital.
However, plans were thrown into question when the defender hinted in an interview with De Telegraaf that he would be happy to stay put at Ajax, where he could play Champions League football.
Transfer insider Rob Blanchette recently revealed that the Amsterdam club were willing to meet any offer United throw at the £27m-rated talent, but having only broken into the Netherlands side a year ago, Goldbridge has shared that Timber is worried about his international place – but the podcaster has stressed that he isn’t “panicking” about whether the defender will make a move to Old Trafford.
Speaking on the United Stand YouTube channel over Timber’s recent comments, he said: “What I was told last night is this is negotiation. This is not Timber suddenly saying, ‘I don’t want to join Manchester United’ – he does want to join Manchester United; he wants reassurances in his role at the club.
“If Man United are not offering him the opportunity to play first-team football, he’s going to stay at Ajax. If we are selling him first-team football at Manchester United, then he’s got no concern about his World Cup spot, because he will just walk straight into the team, anyway. So I’m not panicking about Timber at all.”
Should United sign Timber?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Timber to United…
Still under contract in Amsterdam until 2024, it is still unknown what fee Ajax would command for the 20-year-old, but considering United’s woeful season, tying down one of the continent’s fastest-rising centre-backs would be a shrewd move. He has even recently been called ‘fantastic’ by his international teammate Matthijs de Ligt.
Will Manchester United improve next season?
Yes
No
The club finished the season 35 points off title winners Manchester City and with a goal difference 73 worse off – the lowest inside the top eight – and the manager will surely be intent on shoring up a defence that conceded 57 goals in 38 games last season and with a goal difference of zero.
Timber was a key figure in the Ajax side that conceded just 19 league goals this past term, so United could be looking at one for the future as well as the present if they are to pull off this signing.