Why the fuss about Van de Beek - Real Madrid and Manchester United target analysed

When it was announced the Eredivisie was to be cancelled following the round of games on March 8th, no champion was to be decided for 2019/20. In voiding the campaign due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it meant a number of players will have now played their final game for their respective sides. Hakim Ziyech is one of those, with the Moroccan leaving Ajax for Chelsea this summer. That was a deal confirmed in February and he won't be the only Ajax player to depart the Netherlands for pastures new. 

"Last year, we made verbal agreements with [Andre] Onana, [Nicolas] Tagliafico and Van de Beek to stay another season, and then we look to help each other and find the next step in their careers. Nothing has changed," Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar said last month. The news will have been music to the ears of potential suitors. 

Of course, Ajax won't settle for anything less than their asking price for the trio, and nor should they. All three players have played vital roles for the Dutch side, but despite Ajax's domestic dominance, they are routinely picked apart by Europe's elite, with Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt's respective moves to Barcelona and Juventus last summer a case in point. 

And of the remaining three players on offer this summer, it's Van de Beek who has caused the biggest stir on the continent. The Dutchman signed a new contract with the Dutch side in January 2018, but even they couldn't have predicted just how quickly his stock would rise over the next 18 months. Indeed, at the time the midfielder was in and out of the Ajax team as he struggled to nail down a regular starting berth. 

"For example Van de Beek in the winter you could bought him for much less because he wasn’t always in the team," former Tottenham and Ajax boss Martin Jol mused last summer. Since then, though, the 23-year-old has been a mainstay in this Ajax XI, playing a crucial role in their progression to the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final and eventual title success. 

And he carried that form over to the current campaign. Before the season ground to a halt, Van de Beek's WhoScored rating of 7.41 was enough to rank 14th in the Eredivisie. Indeed, since the start of 2018/19, Van de Beek has had a direct hand in more goals (32 - 17 goals and 15 assists) than any other Eredivisie central midfielder, which would go some way to explaining why he is a man in demand this summer. 

Reports have routinely linked Van de Beek with a high profile switch to Real Madrid, while Manchester United are another that have been monitoring his situation, this coming despite the January arrival, and immediate success of, Bruno Fernandes. However, with Paul Pogba looking more and more likely to stay at Old Trafford this summer, this complicates any possible move for Van de Beek from both clubs. 

Yet, even if Pogba does stay in England, then United would still be foolish to pass up the chance to sign a midfielder of Van de Beek's ilk, provided Real Madrid don't beat them to the punch. A strong point to the midfielder's game is a knack for his last-ditch darting runs into the penalty area, which adds another dimension to the Ajax attack. 

Indeed, of the eight goals Van de Beek netted in the Eredivisie this season, seven came from inside the box as he was picked out by a teammate to hit the back of the net after a late surge from midfield. A conversion rate of 18.2% was a commendable return for the youngster, who was well on course to enjoy his most prolific season to date prior to the league's cancellation. 

It's not just Van de Beek's goal getting ability that has drawn admirers either, but also a willingness to pick out a teammate in a better goalscoring position. 1.9 key passes per 90 was a respectable return for the player, reinforcing a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'key passes', and, importantly, all were from open play. Some may rely on set-pieces to create goalscoring chances, yet with those duties saved for Chelsea-bound Ziyech, Van de Beek was still able to provide for his Ajax teammates. 

A solid dribble success rate of 64.7% showed Van de Beek is able to get the better of an opponent when required and add a fresh approach to the Ajax attack that helped the Dutch giants swarm sides to ensure they scored at least 14 more league goals (68) than any other Eredivisie side this term. Given his eye for a defence-splitting pass, an ability to break forward from midfield adds to his potency in the final third and the watchful glances from giants Real Madrid and United. 

Another crucial side to Van de Beek's game, though, is his hard work off the ball. A number of creative players may shirk the defensive side to their game, but not Van de Beek. A return of 2.2 tackles per 90 was more than any other Ajax midfielder in the Eredivisie this season, while Van de Beek won possession in the attacking third 20 times in the Dutch top tier, the ninth best return. Able to win the ball high up the pitch, Ven de Beek was then able to quickly transition his side into attack to help pry apart defences. 

There may be work required to his distribution, with Van de Beek yielding a pass success rate of 82.2% from 42.7 passes per 90, but thay may be down to Van de Beek attempting fewer safer passes and instead trying to be more daring when in possession, which is no bad thing, however his decision making is a side to his game that can be worked on in time. Considering Ajax's dominance in the Eredivisie, though - their possession average of 60.1% this season - it pays to be more care free off the ball as the Amsterdammers sought to blow opponents away. 

In isolation, those numbers mean little, but given Real Madrid (56.4%) and United (53.3%) both have a lower possession return than Ajax manager this term, the hard work Van de Beek carries out off the ball would be a huge bonus for both sides. Compared with midfielders, only Casemiro (3.4) for Real Madrid and Fred (2.4) and Scott McTominay (2.3) for United make more tackles per 90 than Van de Beek, but the trio don't offer the same attacking output as the Dutchman. 

Indeed, Van de Beek has scored more goals than every central midfielder for both sides, while only Toni Kroos (5) can match his assist return, though the German is on set-piece duty for Real Madrid with three of his five leagues assists coming from set-piece situations. All five of Van de Beek's have been from open play. The deal to take him to the Bernabeu isn't confirmed, and while United remain an option for the player, either side will be landing themselves a master-of-all-trades midfielder.

"If Real Madrid again decide not to push for Donny, then I can understand it if he decides to go to Manchester United instead," Ajax assistant boss Ronald de Boer said recently to add fuel to the fire over a possible move to Spain or England. And it's clear that both Real Madrid and United would benefit from a midfielder of Van de Beek's calibre, so a bidding war for the Dutch sensation isn't out of the question at present. Whoever does win that war, though, will be adding a player who has shown that he is more than capable of transferring his exceptional Eredivisie form to one of Europe's top leagues.