A lot has gone wrong for Manchester United this season, and new co-owners INEOS are keen to right the Glazers’ wrongs, while the team faces a vital summer transfer window.
However, before the new-look behind-the-scenes crew can begin the recruitment process, the club will need to release players due to FFP limitations.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already planning a large-scale summer exodus, with double-digit numbers of players expected to go.
One of them is expected to be Donny van de Beek, who left the club on loan in January to join Eintracht Frankfurt but has had a nightmare season thus far.
Donny’s Uncertain Future
The Netherlands international has made only four starts for the German club, and boss Dino Toppmoller has even excluded him from the UEFA Conference League roster.
The Bundesliga club is unlikely to use the €10 million buy option included in his loan contract, therefore the former Ajax star is expected to return to Manchester, where he has received little recognition since his €39 million move in 2020.
He started only 19 games in his first two seasons, as both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim manager Ralf Rangnick did not believe he was good enough to start games consistently for the club.
Despite his previous Ajax manager’s arrival, his fortunes did not improve, with only four starts last season, while Ten Hag played him for 21 minutes in the first half of the season, prompting the loan move.
The 20-time English league champions are keen to transfer him on, regardless of what Ten Hag decides, given the midfielder’s substantial weekly income of £120,000. By June, his present contract will be up for one year.
His former Eredivisie team was connected with a move, but they refused to pay anywhere near United’s valuation, and now Givemesport claims that based on the response from suitors, the club may even agree to cancel his contract and release him for free.
Allow him to leave freely
“He is still only 26, so you would like to believe this can be turned around, but with a guy like him, you reach a point where you have to contemplate calling it quits.
“Van de Beek has one year left at Manchester United, but the fact that his loan term at Frankfurt has failed to spark any improvement in form or confidence implies he will not be able to level up and force his way into that team by next season. I doubt that a change of manager will change it.
“It is a very unfortunate circumstance since he should have been a wonderful signing. If Frankfurt does not want to buy him, Manchester United will have the option of another loan or a cheap sell abroad. At this point, it may even be necessary to agree to let him depart for free in order to remove him from the payroll.”
His current market value is a dismal €7 million, and it is disheartening to see how much Van de Beek’s stocks have gone since his Ajax days, when United had to beat Real Madrid to sign the Dutchman, who was a Ballon d’Or nominee at the time.