Ajax starlet Jurrien Timber has hit out at “false” claims that former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal talked him out of making a move to Old Trafford this summer.
The Dutch defender was linked with a switch to the club this summer with new Red Devils’ boss Erik ten Hag thought to be a big fan. In the end, Timber elected to remain in Amsterdam even going so far as penning a new contract with the reigning Eredivisie champions.
However, that only came after the Red Devils failed to agree a deal with Ajax, whilst former United boss Van Gaal was claimed to have advised Timber to reject a move to Old Trafford.
Speaking in a press conference, he said: "I think a player of his quality can play in the Premier League. That is not a problem. If he has to make this big step now, that's the question. It is not so wise I think [to move to United]. He has to play.”
With the transfer window now shut and Timber set to stay as an Ajax player until at least January, he has refuted those suggestions that Van Gaal advised him not to move to Old Trafford.
"Many things that are written in the media are false. Like when people say that it was Louis van Gaal who told me not to go to Manchester United. He actually said I would make minutes there,” he told Dutch outlet AD.
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Despite having failed in their pursuit of Timber, Man Utd did manage to complete two big-money transfers with Ajax. Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez moved to Old Trafford earlier in the window and despite a poor start to life at Old Trafford, now appears to have hit his stride having played a role in three consecutive wins.
He was then followed by Brazilian wide man Antony - the Red Devils rubber-stamping an £86m swoop for his services.
Intriguingly, Timber is not the only Dutch-based player to have broken their silence on Van Gaal’s role in a potential move this summer. PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo was linked with a move to Old Trafford as a back-up option should the Red Devils fail in their attempts to sign Antony.
He has since revealed that he turned to Van Gaal for guidance on how a move to Old Trafford would affect his chances of appearing at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
The forward said: "I asked the national coach [Louis van Gaal] for advice. He thought I should follow my gut feeling, but also said that a transfer in a World Cup year would not really be ideal, also because of adjustment. I agreed with him."
