Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek is reportedly set to end his nightmarish time at Old Trafford by transferring to Girona in an extreme cut-price deal.
The former Ajax man has failed to make the grade at Old Trafford since being signed from Ajax in the summer of 2020, at which time he commanded a fee of €39m (£33m).
However, Van de Beek did not manage to get into the good books of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nor Ralf Rangnick, spending the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan with Everton.
There was optimism that a reunion with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag could have sparked an Old Trafford revival for Van de Beek, but he remained a bit-part player in the first half of the 2023-24 season too.
The Dutchman played just twice for the Red Devils last season and subsequently spent the second half of the year with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he managed a mere 357 minutes in eight Bundesliga matches.
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Girona 'agree £423k' Van de Beek deal
Die Adler unsurprisingly did not take up their opportunity to sign Van de Beek on a permanent deal, and he is therefore due back for pre-season at Man United, whom he boasts just two goals and two assists in 62 matches for.
However, as the midfielder is now in the final 12 months of his contract, all parties are working to seal his exit from Old Trafford, and an unbelievably low transfer fee has apparently been agreed.
According to Spanish outlet Relevo, La Liga surprise package Girona - who finished third in the table behind Real Madrid and Barcelona last season - are set to sign Van de Beek in a deal worth just €500,000 (£423,000).
Such a deal will see Man United take a gargantuan financial hit on the 27-year-old - over £32.5m - but Girona are convinced that they can help him rediscover his best form under head coach Michel.
Van de Beek already has a connection at Girona in the shape of former Ajax teammate Daley Blind, who joined from Bayern Munich last year and recently extended his contract until 2026.
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Van de Beek will have the chance to test his mettle in the Champions League with Girona next season, while Man United will only be playing Europa League football on account of their FA Cup triumph.
Six-figure fee sums up Van de Beek's Man United career
When Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford during the COVID-19 era, the Red Devils had seemingly picked up one of European football's most potent midfield maestros if his Eredivisie numbers were anything to go by.
The 27-year-old actually made an ideal start to life at Old Trafford, coming off the bench to score on his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace, even if Man United did end up losing the game.
Solskjaer was often sympathetic towards Van de Beek's struggles, but the Dutchman has just not been able to adapt to the rigours of Premier League football, unlike a certain Kobbie Mainoo.
However, if Girona can offer Van de Beek the right environment to thrive in, his rumoured £423,000 transfer might just go down as one of the best bargain transfers of all time.
Ben Knapton
