With Manchester United missing out on Antonio Rudiger, the likelihood of pursuing Jurrien Timber may have increased.
A move for the Ajax centre-back may be a better longer term fit in any rate, with United needing to get younger as well as better at the position.
The Mirror report Timber is on Erik ten Hag’s wish list at Manchester United, with the Netherlands international a regular in his Ajax side.
Among the reasons Timber could be so valuable to Ten Hag, is that he can play in two positions, centre-back and right-back.
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Player of the week
Timber lined up at right-back for Ajax against NEC Nijmegen at the weekend, with Ten Hag’s side winning the game 1-0 thanks to a late Brian Brobbey goal.
His performance was rated 8.2 out of 10 by WhoScored, who selected him as the star player. Timber made five tackles, won two headers, and touched the ball 87 times.
Former Dutch footballer Romano Denneboom picked his team of the week for De Telegraaf and named Timber as his star player.
He said: “He has had a fantastic season so far and in a difficult game at NEC, you can see that he stands out.
“He has so much calm in his game and that also reflects on a team that is having a hard time. Both in defense and on the ball, he never panics. Under pressure, he always manages to solve it by playing football and his pass is great.”
At just 20-years-old, Timber is a strikingly bright prospect. He has made 30 starts for Ajax in the Eredivisie and Champions League this season, of which 26 have been at centre-back.
With four right-back starts, Timber could become a temporary solution for United here too, while he adjusts to the Premier League.
United need so many new players and can’t possibly sign all the ones which are needed initially. Timber can cover two roles, with a longer term view to establishing himself as a preferred starting centre-back.
This would give Ten Hag time to assess and work with whichever of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Diogo Dalot and Ethan Laird he wishes to retain, and if he does not like any of them, Timber can fill in until United sign a new permanent right-back.