18 April 2023 , 18:26
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The girlfriend of Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has been house hunting in Liverpool as Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag risks losing out to another transfer target to a close rival.
Liverpool began their January transfer window by completing the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch international had been in the process of negotiating a deal with United, who were not decisive on a deal for the forward.
The Eredivisie has unsurprisingly been a key market for Ten Hag – recruiting Antony and Lisandro Martinez from his former club Ajax last summer, alongside signing Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord. Dutch international striker Wout Weghorst arrived on a loan deal in January.
Defender Timber had been a primary transfer target for Ten Hag at Old Trafford last summer prior to the 21-year-old’s decision to remain in Amsterdam for a further year. He did not rule out a move to English football in the future but wanted more first-team experience in the Eredivisie.
A report in Voetbal Primeur now outlines how Dutch TV host Wilfred Genee claimed on the Veronica Offside programme on Monday night that Timber’s girlfriend was currently house-hunting for a flat in England – but not in Manchester.
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It was claimed that Liverpool was the city being evaluated, giving weight to the suggestion that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds may look to once again gazump United in the signing of a Dutch international. It would be a move to bolster the Reds' defence.
Jurrien Timber has long been linked with a move to Man United (Getty Images)Have Your Say! Do Liverpool or United need to strengthen their defence more? Tell us what you think here.
Timber is a central defender who is also capable of playing at right-back – albeit a position he has played in only sporadically in his career – and would theoretically add competition to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for Liverpool in that position.
United are better stocked in the heart of their defence with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof all playing in the position this season. Phil Jones also remains at the club while Axel Tuanzebe is also out on loan. However, several of those players are likely to depart this summer.
Ten Hag is likely to focus United’s resources on signing a central striker this summer alongside a new goalkeeper. It is also believed that Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong is on the club’s transfer radar – another promising Dutch defender.