Man Utd: Ten Hag has 'direct line' to 'fantastic' £43m target at Old Trafford

Manchester United signing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber this summer “makes a lot of sense”, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

Reports suggest that Timber could reunite with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford following the Dutchman’s appointment as Red Devils boss.

At the end of last month, The Guardian reported that United had started talks with Ajax over a deal for Timber, who was recently praised by compatriot Matthijs de Ligt for having a “fantastic” season.

The same outlet stated that the Dutch side value the centre-back at £43m and that Ten Hag wants to make him one of his first signings at his new club.

Despite being just 20 years of age, Timber played 43 times under Ten Hag in the 2021/22 season, showing just how much the United manager trusts him.

In total, he was used 74 times by his former boss, who now seems keen on a reunion.

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Talbot has told GIVEMESPORT that Timber moving to United would make sense because of his relationship with Ten Hag and the club’s need to improve its defence.

Speaking to GMS, the journalist said: “I hear a lot about Timber, and I think that makes a lot of sense for him to be coming in. There’s a direct line of communication there from their time together at Ajax. I think the defence needs sorting out.”

It is quite clear that United need to improve at the back, as Talbot has mentioned. In the 2021/22 campaign, they conceded 57 goals, a record that looks particularly bad when you compare the Red Devils to their top six rivals.

Chelsea and Tottenham, for example, teams United would have liked to have been much closer to, conceded 33 and 44 goals respectively. The above, then, is quite clearly a problem.

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