Solskjaer Explains Reason Behind Signing Donny van de Beek

Ole Gunnar Solskjær feels that Donny van de Beek will improve squad depth at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have officially acquired van de Beek from Ajax. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year-long contract with the Premier League giants and it is embedded with the option to extend a further year.

Van de Beek’s signing adds to the midfield options at Old Trafford, which is already a remarkable one with last winter’s addition of Bruno Fernandes.

Paul Pogba was already having an excellent time upon returning from Juventus and academy graduate Scott McTominay really stamped his mark upon the side last season. The likes of Fred and Nemanja Matic will have to step up their effort in order to stand out in this list though.

However, this is the kind of selection dilemma that Solskjær may be all too happy to have. Reacting to the transfer, the Norwegian gaffer had the following to say on the club’s official website:

“Donny has all of the technical attributes needed to perform in this team and has the personality required to succeed at Manchester United.”

Solskjær then goes on to make a specific comment about the player’s individual abilities: “His ability to see space, time his movements and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position.

“Donny’s performances in the Eredivisie and in Europe have been excellent over the last few years and we are all looking forward to working with him.”

It will be fascinating to see how he elects to field his starting lineup with these options. With the relative youth of some of the players involved, he could certainly rotate his best options every other game.

There is also the possibility of van de Beek slotting in as a no.10 with Pogba and Fernandes’ roles being altered. When Premier League football resumes, the mystery will certainly be solved.