Manchester United To Complete Major Signing Ideal For Jadon Sancho Team-Up

Manchester United and Ajax are close to completing a five-year transfer deal for Donny van de Beek, a playmaker viewed as ideal for a team-up with Jadon Sancho.

Ajax star Van de Beek has been a target of United for the past two seasons. La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona were previously favorites to sign him, with the former almost closing a deal before the coronavirus pandemic.

However, United is now set to sign Van de Beek immediately after the club submitted its first official bid for Van de Beek, which was around €40 million ($48 million), to Ajax on Sunday, De Telegraaf's Mike Verweij reported.

United is “confident” that the deal will be sealed in the next few days without the need for negotiations after matching Ajax's price tag and that the agreement is “close to being done.”

The Red Devils and Van de Beek reached a “total agreement” on personal terms, with an agreement between both clubs involved for the five-year deal soon to follow, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed.

“After new contacts had also on last hours with his agent, Manchester United have now reached a total agreement on personal terms with Van de Beek. The Dutch midfielder has accepted to join Man Utd until June 2025, the contract is almost ready,” he wrote.

Van de Beek will complete a medical while with the Netherlands squad ahead of the move, Sky Sports reported.

Prior to the latest development, reports had already suggested that the 23-year-old midfielder, who was not involved in Ajax's pre-season friendly draw with Union Berlin on Sunday, has already played his final game for the reigning Eredivisie champions.

Van de Beek has an impressive resume and burst onto Eredivisie as one of the league’s most notable youngsters. He has been with Ajax for the entirety of his senior playing career, making 175 appearances and scoring 41 goals for the club.

Following a successful run in Dutch soccer, Van de Beek became United's candidate for an attacking team-up with Sancho, the club’s top priority signing this summer.

While United is still keen on pursuing the Borussia Dortmund winger, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also looking to sign a credible playmaker. Aston Villa talisman Jack Grealish was United’s first target to fill the role for Solskjaer next season.

But with the impending arrival of Van de Beek, it became clear that the Dutchman has a player for the position.