Director suggests Newcastle-linked £47m man can soon leave, Rafael Benitez and Mauricio Pochettino both reportedly keen

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Reported Newcastle United target Donny van de Beek will be allowed to leave Ajax in the next transfer window, club chief executive Edwin van der Sar has confirmed.

According to Le10 Sport, the Magpies are looking at the 23-year-old midfield as part of a “crazy workforce” hoping to be put together at St James’ Park by the prospective new owners.

The report claims that Van de Beek is being lined up as an “attractive option” for both Mauricio Pochettino and Rafael Benitez, the managers said to be in pole position for the Newcastle job.

However, the player’s exploits haven’t gone unnoticed by other clubs, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus are after him too, while Le10 Sport has also named Everton in the mix.

Ajax have already agreed to sell Hakim Ziyech to Chelsea in a £33.3million deal and Van der Sar insists the Dutch club are under no pressure to sell cheaply, despite the financial impact of the global health crisis.

“Last year, we made verbal agreements with [Andre] Onana, [Nicolas] Tagliafico and Van de Beek to stay another season, and then we look to help each other and find the next step in their careers,” the former Manchester United goalkeeper told Sky Sports.

“Nothing has changed… there won’t be a 50 percent discount. The clubs can forget about that.”

Van de Beek, who the Daily Mail claims has a £47million price tag, has 10 goals and 11 assists for Ajax this season, and 41 goals and 34 assists overall, from 175 first-team appearances for the club.

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A box-to-box central midfielder who can score goals and provide assists but also be the water carrier, Van de Beek’s stock has risen massively since coming through the Ajax ranks.

He was a standout performer alongside the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Ziyech – who have left or are about to leave – as Ajax reached the Champions League semi-finals last season.

It won’t be easy for Newcastle to get their hands on Van de Beek, given some other teams linked with him can provide title runs and Champions League football right away once normality resumes.

That said, a charm offensive from Newcastle’s prospective new owners pertaining to the St James’ Park project, plus some strong financial muscle, could always play their part.