Real Madrid ‘agree £47m deal with Ajax for Donny van de Beek’ as Manchester United are dealt a blow in their pursuit of Dutch midfielder
- Real Madrid have reportedly agreed to sign Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek
- Reports in Spain suggest Real have agreed a £47m fee with the Dutch giants
- Real have wanted Van de Beek for some time as they look to revamp their squad
- The news comes as a bitter blow to Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Real Madrid have reportedly agreed a €55million (£47m) deal with Ajax for highly-rated Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek.
The Ajax star has been one of Europe’s most wanted midfielders since his stunning performances helped them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.
Real have been in the market for a creative midfielder since last summer as they seek a long-term replacement for Luka Modric and now appear to have got their man.
Real Madrid have reportedly agreed a £47m deal with Ajax for midfielder Donny van de Beek
Zinedine Zidane has been chasing the Dutchman as a long-term replacement for Luka Modric
According to Marca, a deal has been agreed to take the 22-year-old to the Bernabeu but he will not arrive until next summer.
Van de Beek first caught the eye of Zinedine Zidane last season with an impressive display in the Bernabeu as Ajax beat Real in the Champions League last-16.
It is claimed in Spain though that Van de Beek’s arrival will mean at least one current Real player will be shown the door.
Zidane’s squad is bloated and the club have not hidden the fact they need to get rid of a number of fringe players to free up wage funds.
Van de Beek’s impending arrival in Spain also comes as a bitter blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who wanted the Dutchman to spearhead his midfield at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek caught the eye during Ajax’s run to last season’s Champions League semi-finals
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also said to be keen on Van de Beek
Reports on Tuesday claimed United identified the three playmakers they could make a move for in the summer and one of those was the Ajax man, along with James Maddison and Jack Grealish.
The update comes after Van de Beek dispelled any rumours linking him with a departure from his homeland during the January transfer window earlier this month, but he did not confirm he would be there past the summer.
Speaking during Ajax’s mid-season training camp in Qatar, the playmaker said: ‘I have said it before and I will say it again: I will remain at Ajax this season. And maybe next season as well.
‘These reports about Real Madrid or Manchester United are a good sign, but it is not important now. I’ve said I will stay at Ajax and I will do so, 100 per cent.’
