Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has been sensationally linked with a move to Arsenal, with reports claiming the Gunners have made contact with the player’s representatives.
Van de Beek made the move to Old Trafford last summer in a deal worth up to £40m, but he has not had the easiest debut season.
The 24-year-old has made just four Premier League starts and scored his only goal for the club in their first game of the campaign.
Now, according to 90min, Arsenal are interested in the Dutch midfielder and Gunners legend Ian Wright has previously said that he wished his former club had signed Van de Beek last summer.
Speaking on The Kelly and Wrighty Show shortly after Van de Beek joined United, Wright said: “Donny van de Beek, he’s someone that I wish someone more like Arsenal could have taken.
“When you look at [Paul] Pogba, what he’s doing, and you look at Bruno Fernandes – that is Donny van de Beek’s position.
“So people are thinking they’re going to see Van de Beek [sitting] with Pogba and Fernandes, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, because as much as he can play there, that’s not his preferred position to play.
“Listen, Donny van de Beek will be a good player for Man United in time because he’s a quality player. But is he what they need right now?”
Speaking back in November, Van de Beek admitted he was keen for more minutes, saying: “I’m a patient person, but of course you go there to play as much as possible.
“I also think – in the minutes that I have made, in the times that I have come in – I have shown that I can add something to the team.”
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However, that did not transpire and reports last month claimed that he was set for crunch talks with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about his future.
Van de Beek’s compatriot Rafael van der Vaart believes the midfielder needs to leave Old Trafford if he is to get regular first-team football, telling ESPN: “He fit perfectly into the Ajax system, but he doesn’t fit at Manchester United.
“If nobody leaves United [this summer], he will be lucky to get in the starting line-up.
“He is far too good to sit on the bench for two seasons. He needs minutes very quickly. He is still young, but time flies.
“A club like Borussia Dortmund would have been a better step for him. Manchester United might be a step too far for him.”
Van de Beek’s season unfortunately got worse last week as he was forced to pull out of the Netherlands’ Euro 2020 squad with an injury.
A statement from the team’s official website read: “Donny van de Beek misses EURO 2020. Van de Beek has to let the European Championship pass by.
“The midfielder is struggling with an injury. As a result, he is not available in time for EURO 2020.
“Frank de Boer will not call a replacement for Van de Beek. Get well soon, Donny!”
