Louis van Gaal has told Jurrien Timber that joining Manchester United in a World Cup year may not be the wisest decision.
New Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is busily working behind the scenes to seal his first signing since replacing Ralf Rangnick at the end of last month. And the Dutchman has plenty to do, inheriting a United squad coming off the back of their worst ever Premier League season.
During his first few weeks in the post Ten Hag is running the rule over his playing staff before deciding which changes he needs to swiftly implement to reverse their fortunes. His first window is expected to be a busy one, with upgrades anticipated right through the spine of the team.
Timber, who was an integral part of Ten Hag’s title-winning Ajax side, has been heavily linked with a move and reports state that United have already initiated contact with his employers. Aged just 20, Timber has the capability to play both as a central defender and as a full-back, with his versatility an obvious advantage to a side lacking in so many areas.
The Guardian have reported that Timber could cost United more than £40m, with Ajax still in discussions with the defender over a new contract. There have also been claims that the player himself has reservations over the move, given that he would be joining a team not competing in the Champions League next season.
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Timber is currently on international duty with the Netherlands and is expected to play a part when the Oranje take on Wales in Cardiff on Wednesday night. And speaking ahead of the Nations League clash, ex-United boss Van Gaal has questioned whether he needs to move to England at this relatively early juncture of his career.
“I think a player with his qualities can play in the Prem. That’s not a problem,” Van Gaal explained. “But if he has to make this big step now – that’s the question.”
Asked what would happen if he struggled for game-time at Old Trafford, he replied: “Then he’s not so wise I think. He has to play.”
Van Gaal also admitted that he has held talks with the new United boss, with Ten Hag becoming the fifth man to attempt to replicate the feats of legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Van Gaal had two years at United and had previously warned his compatriot from taking on the same post, branding them a “commercial club” rather than a football one.
“Erik ten Hag is a great coach, and that is always good for Manchester United. But Manchester United are a commercial club, so it’s a difficult choice for a coach. He’d better go to a football club,” Van Gaal said back in March. “I’m not going to advise him, he’ll call me himself. But he must choose a football club and not a commercial club.”
But with the departure of former CEO Ed Woodward, Van Gaal believes the atmosphere may have changed to such an extent that Ten Hag can have success: "I have spoken [to him]. There is now a new leadership, it was Woodward and now it is Richard Arnold," he told Voetbal International . "And that can make the difference, so we have to wait and see. He [Ten Hag] has a lot of confidence. So who am I to say something about that?"
