Marco van Basten fires warning to Jurrien Timber ahead of Arsenal transfer

Marco van Basten urged Jurrien Timber to stay at Ajax for another season before his decision to join Arsenal this summer.

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After seeing their opening offer for Timber rejected by Ajax, Arsenal have now agreed a £40 million deal for the Netherlands international.

Timber had attracted strong interest from Manchester United last summer but Erik ten Hag’s side were unable to reach an agreement with Ajax.

The 22-year-old was expected to be on the move this summer following a difficult campaign with Ajax, but Van Basten told the defender that he should remain in the Eredivisie for one more year.

‘You have to go to a club where you know for sure that you are playing,’ Van Basten told Timber on Ziggo Sport in May.

‘A club where not only do you play but where you are decisive. You are now at Ajax. You have to give yourself that assurance.

‘You also have to be stable in your private life. If you don’t live with your girl yet, I’m just saying, and you’re going there on your own, I’d absolutely advise against it.

‘Which club you go to, in the dressing room they look like, ‘let’s see’. The moment they don’t feel they are better with you, then they are all against you. Because you are an intruder. Then you have to do it alone.

‘You’ve seen this year how difficult it is when you have to go it alone, now that you were among other defenders who were not so good. You had a different year than last year. Last year you were really good and this season you had a difficult season.

‘I would really advise him to gain another year of experience in the Netherlands. If it’s a good year then I’d say, ‘okay [you should leave]’. If it is another doubtful season, then I would do another year.’

When asked for his response to Van Basten’s advice during international duty with the Netherlands last month, Timber said: ‘Of course you take that from someone like Van Basten.

‘But you should always listen to your own feeling and follow that. We’ll see what that brings.’

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