Ten Hag favourite confirms transfer desire

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 29 Apr 2023 12:18 BST
• 4 min read

Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has sent out a message to Manchester United to come and sign him after nine years with the Amsterdam club.

Speaking to De Telegraaf on Saturday, he says that the moment to leave the Eredivisie side is getting closer.

Timber, who will turn 22 in June, enjoyed interest from, among others, Manchester United last summer but eventually stayed and signed a new contract until mid-2025. FootballTransfers understands, though, that United’s interest is live, with Ten Hag appreciating the player’s ability to play on both the right and centre of the defence.

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And the Manchester United manager will have been all ears when it came to his comments in the Dutch press.

When asked about his future, Timber, whose side are fighting for the KNVB Beker and European spots, said: “I am very busy with the present. I know how important the coming weeks are for the club and the team."

He does not want to rule out the possibility that he will make a transfer after the season is over and close the door at Ajax behind him.

“A transfer is getting closer, so to speak. There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax” he explained.

“Last year, Ajax asked me to stay for at least one more season and to extend my contract. As a club boy I did that with love and after the season we will review the situation.

“In the Dutch national team I often talk to boys who play football abroad. I want to take that step someday. But when that is, it will happen in consultation with Ajax. I'm still fine here anyway and I'm in no hurry. The focus is now on the cup final and the remainder of the competition.”

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Timber drops Man Utd hint

The exodus of important players such as Lisandro Martinez and Antony, who joined Man Utd last summer, and Ajax's less successful choices on the transfer market have had an impact on Ajax's season. Timber does not regret staying.

“I make my own choices, separate from the team. But it is no secret that we have a weaker squad than last season,” he explained.

On top of this, he explained his love of playing alongside Martinez.

"I know how great it is to play alongside Lisandro, though my performances don’t depend on him only. We were amazing together, especially with communication. It doesn’t surprise me that he played so well for Manchester United before his injury," the Dutchman said.

Timber has played 116 official matches for Ajax, scoring five goals and producing four assists. According to the FootballTransfers algorithm, Timber's Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is currently €42.5 million, which puts him firmly in Man Utd’s price range for the summer.