Dutch attacking midfielder Toni van de Beek has struggled to settle at Manchester United, but his loan move to the German Bundesliga will see him leave the club after a troubled spell.
Manchester United exile Tony van de Beek is getting a temporary reprieve from his Old Trafford nightmare – two years after Gary Neville announced his decision to sign him from Ajax.
The Dutchman initially failed to hit the heights expected after the Red Devils won the race for his signature following a glittering display for his boyhood club in their run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. The attacking midfielder arrived with a growing reputation. One of the continent's foremost emerging talents but never settled in England.
The 26-year-old has made just 35 appearances in the Premier League since his £40million move to United. A loan switch to Everton failed to revive his fortunes and now he looks set for another temporary relegation.
Meanwhile, the 19-time Netherlands international is expected to sign an initial six-month loan deal with German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt. Athletic. The switch would also earn him a permanent move, with the Bundesliga side having the option to make the deal permanent.
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It is understood that the £9.5million (€11m) fee would be enough to convince the powers that be at Old Trafford to finally cash in on their forgotten man. The former youth sensation has only appeared once in the Premier League for United so far, proving too much for the requirements under Erik ten Hoag.
Any hope that the former Ajax coach would help him rediscover the sterling form that first brought the midfielder to the attention of the recruitment department at the club has not materialised. Indeed, he has started just eight times in the league under his compatriot since the current boss arrived at the club in 2022.
In truth, however, the warning signs that Van de Beek's time at United was not going to prove a successful venture were in place from the start of his spell. Under then manager Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer]He started four Premier League games in his first term.
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His lack of minutes has sounded alarm bells for Red Devils legend and Sky Sports pundit Neville, who has already realized that he is not going to plan for the Dutchman in 2021. Speaking two years ago, an outspoken analyst said: “Why Tony van de Beek Not given the opportunity? There is something in it.
„He hasn't been given a chance for 18 months, so you have to conclude that Ole. [Gunnar Solskjaer] He didn't sign him or he didn't want to,” he insisted, before offering some advice to the midfielder, adding: „It's not good for Tony van de Beek, so I think he needs to go somewhere and play football.”
The former England international further questioned the wisdom behind the Dutchman's signing, admitting the purchase left him confused. He admitted to Sky Sports: 'It's interesting, something happened – the [Donny] The Van de Beek signing is an interesting one – I still can't wrap my head around it.
„With van de Beek sitting on the bench for the last few months, I think Manchester United are preparing for someone to leave, and the signing was made in the expectation that one of the others would leave because it would cost £40m. Maybe. [Paul] Pogba could leave, so they've already got van de Beek to take on that role.”