Manchester United are in contact with Ajax regarding Jurrien Timber, with Erik ten Hag wanting to make the defender one of his first signings. Ten Hag is a firm admirer of Timber, having given him his Eredivisie debut in March 2020, and the 20-year-old defender was an integral part of Ajax’s title-winning side of the past two seasons under his management. Timber is primarily a central defender who can also operate at full-back. Centre-back is a particular weakness of Ten Hag’s squad owing to the uneven form of Harry Maguire, Raphaël Varane and Victor Lindelöf, the front-line players in the position. Their backups, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, are injury-prone and could leave this summer. Timber, who has six Netherlands caps, has two years left on his contract so Ajax may value him at about €50m (£43m). United’s discussions with the club are at an initial stage, and Ajax are understood to have offered Timber new terms. Ten Hag is also monitoring Villarreal’s centre-back Pau Torres. The 25-year-old Spaniard is more experienced than Timber having made his debut in 2017, and has a release clause of about €60m. His terms expire in summer 2024 but he has been offered a new contract. Of his future Torres told AS: “Right now there is nothing at all. I have peace of mind of being where they want me, at the club of my life and I have this offer right now that I value as very positive.”