Jurrien Timber has already highlighted his agreement to leave Ajax this summer after Arsenal lodged a bid for the defender.
Defender Timber had been a primary transfer target for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag – who coached him at Ajax – last summer prior to the 21-year-old’s decision to remain in Amsterdam for a further year.
Timber has also been linked with a move to Liverpool this year with his girlfriend reported to be “house hunting” in Merseyside. The Reds are hopeful of making major renovations to their squad this summer after a disappointing season in which they finished outside the top four.
Timber is a central defender who is also capable of playing at right-back – albeit a position he has played in only sporadically in his career – and would theoretically have added competition to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for Liverpool in that position.
United are better stocked in the heart of their defence with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof all, as well as Luke Shaw being deployed in that position. However, Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly are likely to join Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones on the club’s exit list this summer.
Arsenal are hoping to add depth to their options of William Saliba and Gabriel, with Rob Holding struggling when called into the position in the closing weeks of the campaign. Timber’s versatility and capability of playing full-back is also a huge plus.
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The Dutch defender has already explained that he has an agreement in place with Ajax to allow him to leave this summer. The Gunners opening offer of £30million may not be sufficient but it is likely that a transfer will be concluded after a negotiation process.
Timber explained to De Telegraaf in the Netherlands in April: “A transfer is getting closer and closer, so to speak. There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax.
“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 agreed to review the situation.”
Timber is under contract with Ajax until June 2025 and, although they have a history of selling their best players, they don’t do so cheaply. Last summer, United had to fork out £87.5m to sign Antony and £56m for Lisandro Martinez, while Barcelona paid £65m for Frenkie de Jong and Juventus shelled out £68m for Matthijs de Ligt.
