Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek in action. (Getty Images)
According to the Times, Arsenal are looking to beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signature of Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek this summer. (h/t The Sun)
Tottenham want to bolster their squad after failing to do so in the last two transfer windows, and they have identified the Donny van de Beek as one of their targets ahead of next season.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery is also keen on the Netherlands international, who has been fantastic for Ajax this season, with the midfielder playing a huge part in the club’s run to the Champions League semi- finals.
Van de Beek, 22, has managed to bag 17 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, helping Ajax win the domestic double in the process. And it seems that the midfielder’s form this season has caught the eye of a number of clubs, with two of these being north London rivals—Arsenal and Tottenham.
Tottenham are in dire need of reinforcements this summer having not signed a single player in the last two transfer windows, but Arsenal could be the perfect place for Van de Beek to develop.
The Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League next season after their chastening 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Europa League final. And their lack of Champions League football means their chances of landing the top targets, including Van de Beek are slim now. However, Emery wants to rebuild the squad and should look to persuade the Dutchman for filling the void left by Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey, who is joining Juventus on a free transfer this summer, was one of the Gunners’ most effective midfielders, and without him, Emery’s side will lack some control in the middle of the park. Granit Xhaka, Mateo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira are all decent midfielders, but none of them are known for their creative passing and vision.
That’s when the signing of Van de Beek makes sense for Arsenal, but before Emery wishes to sign him he needs to sell some players to boost his transfer kitty. The Dutchman would be the ideal replacement for Ramsey, whilst adding a different dimension to Arsenal’s predictable midfield. The 22-year-old can operate in a number of areas across the midfield but he is most effective when deployed in the n.10 role behind the striker.
Van de Beek can do pretty much everything for his team. A fantastic passer of the ball, he works very hard which should suit Emery’s style of play. When on the ball, the Netherlands international can pick the right pass, and he can also contribute with plenty of goals as well with his late runs into the box.
Van De Beek has already shown that he’s capable of performing against some of the best teams this season. He has a sky-high potential and Emery could be the right manager to unlock it.
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All in all, the Gunners would get an exceptional player in the Dutch ace if they manage to beat Spurs to his signature.