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Manchester United are apparently keen on a move for Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek
The Dutch international starred in Ajax's run to the Champions League semi-finals last season but unlike fellow star men Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong he stayed put in Amsterdam this summer.
United could be about to test that resolve, however, with ESPN reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is very interested in the 22-year-old.
They say that Solskjaer is pushing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to splash some cash in this window with Van de Beek one of the top options available.
It is suggested that Van de Beek is valued at more than £50million by the Eredivisie champions.
Show all 21 1 /21The 20 most valuable players in the world The 20 most valuable players in the world The 20 most valuable players in the world Who makes the top 20 of the most valuable players in the world?
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 20. Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan: €100.2m Lukaku is in scintillating form this season and his 14 league goals have fired Inter to the top of Serie A. The 26-year-old also boasts hugely impressive numbers for Belgium - 52 goals in 84 games - which will please the CIES algorithm.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 19. Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain: €100.4m The Brazil superstar moved to Parc des Princes with a world record £200.6m fee in 2017 but has suffered multiple injuries causing him to miss 59 games for PSG. This means Neymar only scrapes into this list in 19th place, though his current form in Ligue 1 implies he might be getting back to his best, with five goals and six assists in his last seven matches.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 18. Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid: €100.6m The young Portuguese winger signed for Atletico Madrid last summer but he is yet to live up to his £113m fee since his move from Benfica. The 20-year-old has scored only four times this season and his last league goal came in September.
EPA
The 20 most valuable players in the world 17. Tammy Abraham, Chelsea: €103.1m Abraham has built on a prolific loan spell with Aston Villa last season to become the spearhead of Frank Lampard's youthful Chelsea. The 22-year-old has scored 14 goals in 28 appearances this term and has forced his way into Gareth Southgate's plans.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 16. Richarlison, Everton: €104.0m The versatile Brazilian forward moved to Goodison Park from Watford in 2018 and has become Everton's star man. The 22-year-old has scored nine times this season and won the 2019 Copa America, scoring in the final as Brazil beat Peru.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 15. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool: €110.5m The only full-back on this list, Alexander-Arnold is one of England's finest young talents and was integral to Liverpool's Champions League victory last season. The 21-year-old's range of passing and incredible crossing ability mean that he has already racked up two goals and eight assists in 20 league appearances this campaign.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 14. Roberto Firmino, Liverpool: €111.5m Though not as prolific in front of goal as other strikers, Firmino is vital to Liverpool's style of play and has chipped in with eight goals and nine assists this season. The Brazilian's importance to the Reds was on display as he scored the winning goals in Liverpool's Club World Cup semi-final and final on the way to winning the title for the first time.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 13. Timo Werner, RB Leipzig: €112.0m The German striker has scored a remarkable 23 goals in 25 games this season and is linked with a move to some of Europe's biggest clubs. However, it seems unlikely that he will be moving just yet, as his goals have led RB Leipzig to the summit of the Bundesliga.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 12. James Maddison, Leicester City: €112.4m The 23-year-old is the only midfielder to make the top 20 thanks to his impressive tally of nine goals and three assists this season. Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has ruled out a January move for his talented playmaker, but James Maddison is constantly linked with a move to Manchester United.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 11. Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City: €115.6m Though his minutes are limited due to the presence of fellow striker Sergio Aguero, Brazilian Jesus is one of Europe's best young forwards. This season the 22-year-old has scored or assisted 19 times in 26 appearances - most recently sinking Everton with a double.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 10. Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan: €115.7m The Argentinian is Lukaku's strike partner at Inter and his stock has risen massively this season thanks to his 14 goals in Serie A and the Champions League. The 22-year-old is often linked to Barcelona and touted as the Spanish giant's ideal replacement for Luis Suarez.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 9. Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona: €123.6m Griezmann has scored eight times for Barcelona since they met his €120m release clause last summer, but the forward is yet to match his Atletico form. The Frenchman was arguably France's best player as they went on to lift the World Cup in 2018 and at 28 years of age he is arguably hitting his prime.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 8. Lionel Messi, Barcelona: €125.5m Messi, 32, is the only over-30 on this list but the Argentinian continues to defy his age, picking up a record sixth Ballon d'Or last year. His stats for this season are as incredible as ever, with 15 goals and nine assists in 19 games.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 7. Marcus Rashford, Manchester United: €134.3m The pacey forward has scored 16 goals and assisted five this season and is pivotal to Manchester United. His appearance numbers defy his youth, with 198 United outings and 38 England caps at the age of 22.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 6. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur: €150.5m The England captain has struggled with injuries, most recently picking up a hamstring tear as Spurs lost 1-0 to Southampton. But the 26-year-old remains as good a striker as any on his day and he has still scored 17 goals this season.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 5. Sadio Mane, Liverpool: €155.6m The Senegalese forward came fourth in the 2019 Ballon d'Or and many now consider him to be one of the best players in the world. The 27-year-old has scored 15 goals and assisted 11 this season and is table-topping Liverpool's top scorer.
EPA
The 20 most valuable players in the world 4. Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund: €168.9m Sancho, 19, is the only teenager to make CIES' top 20 thanks to his sensational numbers in the Bundesliga this season. The winger has nine goals and 10 assists in the league and has also shone in the Champions League, attracting the attention of many European giants.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 3. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool: €175.1m Liverpool's second player in the top five, the Egyptian winger is one third of the fearsome trident of Salah-Firmino-Mane. The 27-year-old struggled with an ongoing ankle injury earlier this season but has still scored 14 goals and assisted seven.
EPA
The 20 most valuable players in the world 2. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City: €223.7m The most valuable English player, Sterling has developed into a sensational talent under Pep Guardiola's coaching. The 25-year-old opened the season with a hat-trick at West Ham United and has gone on to score 20 goals and assist six.
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The 20 most valuable players in the world 1. Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain: €265.2m The 21-year-old continues to boast remarkable numbers, with 18 goals and nine assists to his name in 19 appearances this season. The Frenchman has already scored over 100 club goals and helped guide his nation to the 2018 World Cup - he is a legend in the making.
AP
United may not stop there either with another Ajax said to be on their radar.
The Express add that winger Hakim Ziyech
The Morocco international is free to leave the club if anyone matches his asking price which is set at around £43m.
Solskjaer sees Ziyech, who was tracked by Arsenal in the summer, as a good fit but could prioritise other targets.
One man not moving to Old Trafford this month is Jadon Sancho .
United have been linked with a big money move for the England international for some time but Sky Sports report that Borussia Dortmund have no intention of selling one of their prised assets in January.
He remains on United's radar, however, and could be the subject of a nine-figure offer come the summer.
In terms of outgoings Ashley Young
Young's current Old Trafford contract expires at the end of the season and the 34-year-old has held positive talks with the Serie A club.
Whether Young joins Inter during the current transfer window or in the summer now hinges on United, though Solskjaer may decide to postpone any move until the summer.
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