Manchester United hero Jaap Stam has previously pinpointed the one main weakness in Arsenal transfer target Jurrien Timber's game
The Gunners are progressing in their hope of signing the Ajax defender after an opening bid of £30million was rejected by the Eredivisie giants last week. A second offer has since been submitted by the north Londoners, football.london understands, with personal terms on a deal to 2028 already agreed with the 22-year-old.
Timber's ball-playing ability and versatility certainly make him an exciting signing for Mikel Arteta's side, with the Dutch international more than capable of inverting into midfield from right-back as well as operating in his favoured centre-half role. But former United defender Stam has raised some questions regarding the youngster, claiming that he lacks the aggression that Red Devils star Lisandro Martinez possesses.
“The intentions of the trainer (Erik Ten Hag) are moulded to Timber, but make no mistake: this is the Premier League,” he told Algemeen Dagblad. “There you can’t always be dominant, you have to duel much more against strikers like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
“Everyone with Lisandro Martínez was also curious about that. It turns out that he did it. With Timber, I just miss a certain amount of aggression – sometimes even being a little mean – in his game.
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“That is also, for example, in giving the first blow before the real duels come. Martinez does. You can learn that too, but it has to be in you.”
Ten Hag, who managed both Martinez and Timber during his time at the Johan Cruyff Arena, has consistently heaped praise on Timber, praising the Utrecht-born starlet's ability to be utilised in various different positions. "He (Timber) could even play at left-back or in central midfield," the United boss said last year.
"He will not immediately be the leader of the Ajax first team, but he dares to speak out immediately and has not been shy in the dressing room. Those are important qualities to get far."
