Agent confirms Erik ten Hag “cancelled” transfer before Man United loan

Donny van de Beek’s agent has confirmed that Erik ten Hag “cancelled” a permanent transfer away from Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.

Van de Beek, 27, has had a torrid time at United since his move from Ajax in the summer of 2020 and is currently on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Since his January move, he has started just four Bundesliga games for the German side and is expected to be looking elsewhere for a permanent move in the summer transfer window.

Van de Beek started the season at Old Trafford but made just two appearances for Erik ten Hag’s side before his mid-season loan.

The player’s agent, Guido Albers, has since confirmed that the Dutch midfielder was close to leaving United permanently in the summer, but Ten Hag wanted the 27-year-old to remain at Old Trafford.

‘He was very close to a transfer to Real Sociedad last summer,” admitted Albers while speaking to ESPN. “That was cancelled at the last minute because Erik ten Hag wanted to keep him until the last minute. Then he ended up at Frankfurt.”

Regarding Van de Beek’s future, Albers added that a move to another Premier League club is seemingly off the table for the player, as well as a return to Ajax, although Van de Beek himself has kept the door open on a reunion in Amsterdam.

“Donny does not want to stay in the Premier League, also because United do not want that,” explained Albers. “That is not a good choice for him. He needs to return to a club that plays good football. In any case, he will not return to Ajax.

‘My preference was to look in Spain, Italy or France. If I could get him in Spain or Italy that would be fantastic, at a club where he will play as a No.10 like he played at Ajax.”