Manchester United are reportedly keeping a close eye on Amourricho van Axel Dongen's situation at Ajax with the view to potentially signing him on a free transfer this summer.
The 18-year-old only has a deal with Ajax until the end of June, with the Dutch champions facing the real possibility of losing him ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Van Axel Dongen has been with the Amsterdam giants since 2013, progressing through the various age groups before making his debut for Jong Ajax in May 2021.
The forward has featured on three occasions for Ajax's first team, with his Eredivisie debut coming against FC Utrecht last January, which remains his only league appearance to date.
Van Axel Dongen has missed a lot of football this season due to an ankle injury, but he has recently returned to fitness and starred against NAC Breda for Ajax Under-21s on Monday, scoring once and providing two assists in a 6-2 success for the Amsterdam side.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United 'are one of the clubs' interested in the youngster, with Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag an admirer of him.
Romano claims that Ajax have offered the teenager a new deal until June 2027, but there is not currently an agreement, and as it stands, he will be leaving on a free transfer this summer.
Ten Hag left Ajax to take charge of Man United last year, bringing Lisandro Martinez and Antony with him to Old Trafford, while the English giants were also heavily linked with Jurrien Timber.
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The current Red Devils boss handed Van Axel Dongen his debut in December 2021, and the forward hinted last September that he would be open to a reunion with Ten Hag.
"I will remain eternally grateful to him for giving me the opportunity as a young player to play football with players like Antony and Dusan Tadic," he told Voetbal Zone.
"And I think it's great to see that things are going a bit better with Manchester United; I really wish him that.
"Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to speak to him [Ten Hag] since his transfer to United, but who knows, our paths may cross in the future.
"To be honest, I am not currently in the process of renewing my contract. For now I will focus completely on staying fit and playing and see what comes my way. Talks are not underway yet, but they could always be."
Van Axel Dongen has scored 17 goals for Ajax at Under-21, Under-19, Under-18 and Under-17 level, while he has been capped on one occasion by Netherlands Under-18s.
Matt Law
