Donny van de Beek will get a chance to start again at Manchester United this summer under Dutch boss Erik ten Hag, claims a report.
Van de Beek has endured a tough time in Manchester since his move from Ajax in September 2020. United paid £35m upfront and £5m in add-ons for the Holland international, who signed a five-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.
Van de Beek arrived with a burgeoning reputation after helping Ajax into the Champions League semi-finals. Ten Hag oversaw that run which was ended by Spurs over two legs in the final four.
The 25-year-old was a key part of that team and played a pivotal role in central midfield.
However, Van de Beek struggled to acclimatise to life in the Premier League and he was offloaded by Ralf Rangnick in January. In fact he made just 14 appearances this term and failed to start in the Premier League before joining Everton on loan.
Frank Lampard took Van de Beek on a deal until the end of the season. But He has made only six appearances for Everton. And he picked up an injury in the warm up ahead of Premier League match with West Ham.
Lampard confirmed the injury: “It’s a small grade thigh injury, which will make him fit for the match against Leicester City. He is ineligible to play against Manchester United at the weekend anyway.”
Van de Beek did not rise from the bench against Leicester.
Van de Beek was ‘key player’ for Ajax
But Ten Hag will take him back in the summer and wipe the slate clean, according to The Telegraph.
Van de Beek has been given a “lifeline” and will start pre-season at Old Trafford.
It’s not a great surprise that Ten Hag will give Van de Beek a chance to impress. Before he left Amsterdam for United, he said: “He is an absolute key player for us, a very modern midfielder with lots of depth in his play.”
Ten Hag was also mystified as to his man’s lack of game time under Old Gunnar Solskjaer.
Speaking to de Volkskrant in December 2021, he said:…