A string of injury setbacks and a challenging stint at Manchester United could see midfielder Donny van de Beek seeking greener pastures, as per the latest round of speculation.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared an insight into van de Beek's current scenario at Manchester United and his relationship with the club's manager, Erik ten Hag.
Romano reported, "Donny van de Beek is set to weigh his options in the forthcoming weeks as a departure from Manchester United looks increasingly probable. Despite his affinity for the club and ten Hag, his desire for consistent game time next season is paramount."
Rewinding to the build-up to the 2020-21 season, Manchester United fans were brimming with excitement after the club signed van de Beek for a whopping £35 million ($43.49 million), with an additional £5 million ($6.21 million) in add-ons, bringing him in from the Dutch Eredivisie club, Ajax. The five-year contract was met with high hopes.
However, the Dutch midfielder's time on the field has been less than impressive, with only 60 appearances across three seasons, despite the club undergoing management changes four times, including the addition of fellow Dutchman, Erik ten Hag.
His trajectory took a further hit when he was lent to Premier League club Everton during the 2021-22 season, with the hope that he could regain his past form. The move, unfortunately, didn't pan out, with persistent calf injuries pushing him further down the selection hierarchy.
Van de Beek was last rumored to be on the radar of La Liga club, FC Barcelona, in the summer of 2021. However, since then, his name has barely surfaced in transfer speculations, save for his reported intent to leave Manchester United.
Despite the management shift in Manchester United, with ten Hag at the helm, van de Beek's misfortunes persisted, with a "serious knee injury" sidelining him for the season post their 3-0 victory over Bournemouth in January.
Discussing his rehabilitation progress with Manchester United TV (MUTV) four months post-injury, van de Beek expressed, "I'm focused on my recovery, and things are looking good. It's difficult to pinpoint a timeline, but my progress has been steady. I'm dedicating time in the gym and getting closer to returning to the pitch, which is a positive sign. I'm not far off."
Van de Beek's potential remains unfulfilled. But his future, plagued by a recurrent injury spell, hangs in the balance, and any prospective club will need to take his fitness into consideration before investing in him.
