Real looked determined to land a midfielder ahead of this season, with Van de Beek seemingly a more attainable and affordable target than Manchester United’s Paul Pogba. Christian Eriksen was also linked, but a move for the Dane never materialised either.
As such, Van de Beek, who shot to prominence during Ajax’s epic Champions League run, stayed in Amsterdam. However, the latest gossip is now that Real could return with fresh interest.
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Los Blancos are willing to pay €55m for the 22-year-old, who was notably among the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
That marries with information De Telegraaf already had from June that suggested Ajax technical director Marc Overmars had priced Van de Beek between €50m and €60m.
It isn’t clear whether Real would make their approach when the January transfer window opens in a little over three weeks’ time or wait until the end of the season.
Where a January transfer might previously have been ruled out because of a lack of Champions League eligibility, a UEFA rule change brought into effect last season means that Van de Beek could play for Real in Europe this season, despite having already done so for Ajax.
Real may feel they need an extra boost in midway through the season after a difficult start to 2019/20, particularly in the Champions League.
Should Van de Beek leave Ajax for a big transfer fee, he would become the third academy graduate to be sold to a European superpower in recent months following Frenkie de Jong’s move to Barcelona and Matthijs de Ligt’s switch to Juventus.
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