Roy Keane has stated that rumoured Newcastle United target Donny van de Beek is ‘very average’, as he told Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has found life tough at Manchester United since his big-money move last summer and Keane thinks the money paid for his talents is a ‘drop in the ocean’.
Given that Van de Beek continues to struggle for game time at Old Trafford – he has only played 16 minutes of Premier League football.
It has seen him linked with other clubs, including the now heavy pockets of Newcastle United as the club seemingly entered talks with the player’s agent last month.
It’s looking likely that Van de Beek will have to leave Manchester in order to get his career back on track and St James’ Park would be an ideal place for him.
But despite being harshly treated in Man United colours, Keane still doesn’t seemingly rate what he has seen from the Dutchman.
“Are you saying he (Van de Beek) is the answer (to Man United’s problems)?” asked Keane. “He played at the end of last season and he was very average. He was very average!
“£40 million is drop in the ocean. £40 million is a drop in the ocean. £40 million!
“Jack Grealish is on the bench and he’s £100 million. And he’s on the bench.”
It’s looking likely, as the weeks pass by, that Ole Gunnar Solskjær will still be Manchester United boss when the winter transfer window re-opens.
If that’s the case, then Van de Beek’s current playing situation simply won’t change and he will need to move.
The best option would be a loan deal and this is where Newcastle, in their current state, need to take advantage.
Eddie Howe has just walked through the doors of the North East club, he is a possession-based manager, who likes his midfielders to be comfortable on the ball, show for the ball in tight situations and have the ability to move it forward with speed.
Van de Beek does that in abundance, it’s just a case of most of it being showcased more in Ajax colours, than it has been for Man United.
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