Manchester United signing Frenkie de Jong could be bad news for Donny van de Beek

Erik ten Hag is getting the band back together. Ajax's dream run to the brink of the Champions League final in 2018/19 was built on a thrilling core of homegrown talents, but it was inevitable that the moment Tottenham cruelly cut them down to size in Amsterdam was also the moment the exodus gathered pace.

Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek were two of the stars of that season, along with central defender Matthijs de Ligt, but De Jong had already agreed to move to Barcelona. De Ligt would join Juventus and a year later Van de Beek was signing on at Manchester United.

Ten Hag was the man who masterminded it all - on the pitch, at least - and now he's followed Van de Beek to Old Trafford, although he'll hope for more success than his countryman.

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The 52-year-old's first act as United manager could be to reunite himself with De Jong. United have opened talks with Barcelona over a transfer and although they won't be held to ransom to fix Barcelona's financial problems, there is hope a deal can be done and confidence that the player is open to the move.

It would raise the exciting prospect of De Jong and Van de Beek thriving in midfield for Ten Hag once again and the centre of the pitch has been the new manager's top priority this summer.

But while the signing of De Jong would be a significant statement of intent for United, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be good news for Van de Beek too.

The 25-year-old has had a terrible time at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick and would have welcomed the arrival of Ten Hag. He finished the season on loan at Everton and in two years has made just four Premier League starts for United.