Man Utd target Ten Hag labelled Van de Beek’s lack of game time a ‘mortal sin’

Erik ten Hag has had plenty to say about Donny van de Beek's frustrating time at Manchester United and he may get a chance to fix that this summer.

Ten Hag, 52, is heavily linked with becoming the Premier League side's permanent boss after expressing his frustrations at Ajax's transfer policy.

The Dutchman, who has learned from Pep Guardiola during their time together at Bayern Munich, is not strong of opinions it seems.

He gave his thoughts on the scathing assessment on United's treatment of the former Ajax midfielder back in December.

Van de Beek's frustrations at his lack of game time at Old Trafford had been evident for months as successive bosses seemed unwilling to give him a chance.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking in November yielded little further opportunities under Ralf Rangnick.

Speaking to de Volkskrant, Ten Hag said: “Donny, I find that hard. [It's a] mortal sin.

“If you haven't had a chance yet, then development will also stall. Every now and then you encourage them.”

His comments came just before Van de Beek was farmed out to Everton on-loan for the remainder of the season at the end of the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old made 38 appearances for the Red Devils, playing just 1,510 minutes for the club across those matches, whilst averaging 40 minutes per appearance before his move to Merseyside.

Ten Hag and van de Beek clearly had a strong relationship from their time together in the Netherlands and was reluctant to see him go.

Speaking to Marca in August 2019, when it looked like Van de Beek could join Real Madrid in, Ten Hag said: “We will do everything in our power to keep him at Ajax.

“We don't want to lose him, but when clubs of that calibre enter the situation, things get very difficult. Donny was very important for us last season and has started this campaign with enthusiasm, freshness and lots of energy, his departure would be a loss, but we know it can happen.”

Van de Beek will be heading back to Old Trafford following his loan at Everton and there may be his old boss waiting for him when he gets back.

According to reports, Ten Hag had an interview with Old Trafford chiefs last Monday, and is the No.1 candidate of taking over from interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

It is believed United will have to speak to ten Hag's agent Kees Vos, who negotiated Robin van Persie's move to Old Trafford from Arsenal a decade ago.

Ajax have indicated they will not stand in his way and have a good relationship with United through their chief executive Edwin van der Sar, but there would still be compensation in the region of £4million.

There has previously been praise from former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk credited Ten Hag for instilling confidence in the younger Ajax players like Van de Beek in the past.

“What he is managing to do with such young players is remarkable. The likes of [Matthijs] De Ligt, [Frenkie] De Jong and Van de Beek have only just come out of the academy and are already playing like veterans”, he told TV station NOS in May 2019.

“Ten Hag deserves huge credit.”