Donny swoop won’t lead to Fred’s exit
PAPERWORK ON £40.1M DEAL TO BE SIGNED IMMINENTLY
UNITED are set to complete a £40.1 million move for Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek after he passed a medical on Monday and agreed personal terms.
Only the paperwork is left to be finalised to complete what will be United’s first signing of the summer transfer window. That is set to be signed in the next couple of days, with Van de Beek currently away on international duty with Holland.
United had been monitoring Van de Beek since January and had been long-term admirers of the Ajax midfielder, but they accelerated their move for the 23-year-old over the weekend.
With negotiations with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho continuing to prove difficult and a move for Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish looking expensive, United swooped to agree a £40.1m deal with Ajax for Van de Beek, who was then left out of their squad for a pre-season friendly with Eintract Frankfurt on Saturday.
Van de Beek underwent a successful medical on Monday and personal terms between the player and United have been agreed, leaving just the paperwork left to be completed before United can announce their first signing of the window.
The attacking midfielder will linkup with his new team-mates once he returns from international duty with Holland, who play twice in the Nations League over the next week, against Poland on Friday and Italy on Monday.
Van de Beek had been expected to join Real Madrid this summer, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenues forced the La
Liga champions out of the running and opened the door for United.
The Ajax academy graduate was a shining light in the club’s run to the 2018/19 Champions League semifinals.
Meanwhile, Fred has no intention of leaving United – and nor has he been informed he is available for transfer, despite van de Beek’s arrival.
The M.E.N. understands there has been no dialogue between Fred’s representatives and United over immediate plans for his future and he is happy at the club.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer favoured Fred over Nemanja Matic, who started in 16 of the last 19 Premier League matches, in United’s Europa League quarter-final and semi-final ties against Copenhagen and Sevilla and the Brazilian enjoys a warm rapport with the United manager.
Fred, 27, joined United from Shakhtar Donetsk for £52m in 2018 and after a torrid first season was one of their standout performers in 201920, making 39 starts. Only Harry Maguire, David de Gea, Aaron WanBissaka, Victor Lindelof, and Anthony Martial lined up more often.
Fred is contracted to United until 2023 and the club has the option of an additional year. United recently tied down fellow midfielders Matic and Scott McTominay on new contracts and are prepared to offer Paul Pogba improved terms. James Garner is waiting for a loan move to be finalised for next season.