With a 1-0 victory over Ligue 1 team Lyon on Wednesday afternoon, Manchester United improved to two wins in a row to begin the preseason. Donny van de Beek, who had previously been overlooked, scored the game’s only goal with a beautiful volleyed attempt.

The 26-year-old former Ajax midfielder had not played for the Red Devils since suffering a season-ending injury against AFC Bournemouth at home in January. That setback summed up his miserable tenure at Old Trafford.

What did Van de Beek set Man United back?

With only two goals and two assists in 60 competitive games over the last three years, it is fair to conclude that the Premier League heavyweights did not receive a return on their initial £40 million investment in the Netherlands international.

While he has been unable to impress when he has played, the once-promising gem has largely turned into something of a spare part in Manchester. Journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated earlier this season that playing the Dutchman simply “doesn’t work.” The player previously scored 41 goals and recorded 34 assists in 175 games across all competitions during his time in Amsterdam.

Due to these problems, it is looking increasingly probable that the £120,000-per-week flop will go for greener pastures this summer. The player even acknowledged as much after the team’s midweek victory.

Taylor Booth of Utrecht might be the ideal substitute if Ten Hag decides to move on from the offensive midfielder before the start of the following season in order to provide Bruno Fernandes some competition and cover.

What are the newest transfer speculations involving Man United?

As reported by ESPN at the end of the previous month, Ten Hag is a “known admirer” of the American maestro, and United was claimed to have inquired about the possibility of signing Booth during their halted chase of Mason Mount.

The former asset of Bayern Munich would be a desirable choice because he might be offered cheaply this summer, according to rumours in Germany that claim the 22-year-old, who can also play out wide, has an asking price of just €12 million (£10 million).

Taylor Booth: who is she?

Booth, in contrast, has been significantly more impressive in the Eredivisie recently, producing six goal involvements in just 28 games in all competitions last season. Van de Beek’s flaws are shown by his lack of attacking productivity.

Joseph Lowery, a journalist, claims that the up-and-coming star “has the sauce” since he is “skillful, creative, quick, intense, and versatile”—a list of qualities that would probably appeal to those at Old Trafford.

The young player’s attacking ability is particularly evident given that he averages 3.25 progressive carries per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 2% of midfielders in the Men’s next eight competitions. In contrast, Van de Beek is much less skilled in possession, averaging just 0.48 per 90 minutes during the 2021/22 season.

The current United flop averaged just 0.65 during the 2021/22 season, during which he spent time on loan at Everton, whilst Booth averaged 1.45 successful take-ons per 90 – placing in the top 10% in that regard. Booth also appears to have a superior aptitude for beating his man.

Because of the stark differences between the two, it appears that the Utrecht star, who has been compared to United target Frenkie de Jong, could be the ideal replacement for Van de Beek. The latter player only needs a fresh start somewhere else to restart his stalled career.