Manchester United step up checks for Ajax’s 18-year-old talent Sean Steur

Manchester United’s recruitment staff have intensified their scouting of Ajax teenager Sean Steur as the club map out a revamped midfield for the summer transfer window, sources have confirmed to HITC.

United opted against adding to Erik ten Hag’s squad in January, but with Casemiro set to depart when his contract expires in June, Old Trafford officials accept that at least one—and possibly two—new midfielders will be required before the 2024-25 campaign kicks off.

While domestic targets such as Newcastle’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton remain under active consideration, United’s recruitment network has been instructed to cast a wider net. That directive has led scouts to the Eredivisie, where 18-year-old Steur is emerging as one of the most coveted prospects in the division.

Despite fewer than a dozen senior starts for Ajax, Steur’s composure in possession and tactical intelligence have already prompted United to send representatives to watch him live on several occasions. Liverpool and Arsenal have also registered their interest, while Manchester City and Chelsea are understood to have tracked the Netherlands youth international for a longer period.

Ajax moved quickly to secure Steur’s future last autumn, tying him to a deal that runs until 2028, yet the Amsterdam club are braced for serious offers if the Premier League’s elite decide to accelerate their pursuit. United’s recent Dutch acquisitions highlight the risks and rewards of shopping in the Eredivisie: Lisandro Martínez has proved an undisputed success, but high-profile moves for André Onana, Antony and Memphis Depay have delivered mixed returns.

INEOS, now overseeing football operations, are prioritising an experienced, ready-to-start holding midfielder, explaining the continued links to proven Premier League performers. Nevertheless, sources indicate that Steur is viewed as a strategic purchase who could grow into the first-team squad rather than an immediate replacement for Casemiro, whose physical presence and leadership have remained central to Ten Hag’s side despite the Brazilian’s advancing years.

Ajax are under no immediate pressure to sell, yet the combination of Premier League interest and the player’s rapid development could force their hand. United, for their part, are expected to be among the busiest clubs in Europe once the summer window opens, with midfield reinforcements sitting at the very top of their agenda.

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