Erik ten Hag has already told Manchester United what impact signing Jurrien Timber would have

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Netherlands starlet Jurrien Timber has already been hailed as a leader by Erik ten Hag amid suggestions that he may follow the Ajax manager to Old Trafford this summer. Manchester United are set to appoint Ten Hag and the Dutch giants expect him to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis.

Manchester Evening News revealed three weeks ago that Ten Hag was a preferred candidate for the position. While key figures at the club suggest no deal has been formalised, it appears to be a matter of time before Ten Hag officially takes the reigns.

With one eye on the summer transfer window, several Ajax players have, naturally, been linked with a high-profile switch to United and Timber falls into that bracket. Already capped six times by his country, the 20-year-old centre-back has burst onto the scene under Ten Hag.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag faces a dilemma over Manchester United player of the year contender

His emergence has enabled Ajax to move on from Juventus defender and one-time United target, Matthijs de Ligt, while further movement in the position has been mooted at Old Trafford despite signing Raphael Varane from Real Madrid last summer. But what does Ten Hag think about Timber?

Speaking to German publication BILD last season, Ten Hag said: "With [players like] Jurrien Timber, Devyne Rensch and Ryan Gravenberch, the next generation of top talent has joined in the main group. At Ajax, we have one of the best youth training programs in the world."

Before that, Ten Hag shared his glowing verdict on Timber with Ajax TV. He added: "Jurrien could even play at left-back or in central midfield.

"He will not immediately be the leader of the Ajax first team, but he dares to speak out immediately and he has not been