Man Utd get Van de Beek news they DREADED as free transfer possibility draws nearer

Robin Bairner

• 8 Apr 2024 15:00 BST
• 4 min read

The possibility that Manchester United could release Donny van de Beek on a free transfer has come a little closer to reality with the confirmation from Eintracht Frankfurt of the news that the Old Trafford club dreaded.

Van de Beek moved to the Bundesliga club on loan in January in the hope of resurrecting his stalled career.

The change of scene has helped the Netherlands international little. He has played only six matches for Frankfurt and has found himself frozen to the bench in each of the last three games, despite his team failing to win any of these.

EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd attacker Anthony Martial to reject Saudi Pro League move

Unsurprisingly, Fussball.news reports that Eintracht have no intention of making his loan deal permanent, which is possible at the end of the season for just €12 million.

The German source indicates there are fears over the player’s mentality.

“Van de Beek is generally perceived as a good character. The 26-year-old is a polite and modest person. However, there are question marks, especially regarding intrinsic motivation,” the source says.

READ MORE: Man Utd’s Liverpool failure confirms the SEVEN players who will be first to go

“Does he currently have the instinct to go beyond the pain barrier and make himself indispensable?

“The situation is therefore difficult for the player himself.”

Man Utd tipped to release Van de Beek

Van de Beek’s position could be about to become a whole lot worse, too.

Man Utd have little interest in retaining him beyond the end of the season and could resort to drastic measures in order to get his wages off the books.

Despite signing the 26-year-old for €39m from Ajax in the summer of 2020, the Red Devils are so disillusioned by his performances that they are considering releasing him on a free transfer at the end of the campaign. This would come a year before the end of his contract.

The other possibility is that Van de Beek is one of the players shipped to Ligue 1 side Nice as new Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe seeks to take advantage of one of the bonuses of multi-club ownership.