KOEMAN EYE VAN DER BEEK DEAL

 

Newly appointed Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is reportedly keen to make Ajax’s midfielder Donny van de Beek his first signing.

The Camp Nou giant unsurprisingly sacked Quique Setién following the embarrassing 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter final tie. The 2019-2020 season has been a major disappointment for the Catalan giants culminating in losing the La Liga title to rivals Real Madrid and then a huge disappointment against Bayern in Europe, meaning no title all year.

Barcelona would probably have patched things up this summer but the clash with the Germans led to the pivot. It was too embarrassing to swallow.

Former midfielder Xavi Hernandez and former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino were among the candidates to take over at Camp Nou. But Koeman has been given the mantle of leadership at Camp Nou. He was given a two-year deal according to an official statement on the club’s website.

According to Le10Sport, Koeman doesn’t plan to arrive at his new home empty-handed. He is determined to bring Ajax’s Van de Beek with him in order to strengthen Barça’s midfield. A midfield that will be without Arthur next season. Koeman is determined to link Van De Beek with Frenkie de Jong once again, who left Ajax to join Barcelona last summer.

The Blaugrana’s lack of depth in the centre of the park is evident against the Bravarian. As a result, the addition of a player such as Van de Beek is a top priority for the new manager. Van De Beek is a very versatile and technically gifted player. A quality that is very rare in the current Barca squad.

Van De Beek was linked with Barca archrival Real Madrid last season, but no deal materialized.