Jaap Stam says transfer target Jurrien Timber ‘lacks the aggression’ needed in the Premier League

Jaap Stam has warned Manchester United and Liverpool that transfer target Jurrien Timber ‘lacks the aggression’ needed in the Premier League.

The Dutch defender was previously linked with a move to the Red Devils following the appointment of his former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

But after a series of discussions during last summer’s transfer window, talks between the two sides fell through and Timber made the decision to stay at his boyhood club.

Liverpool are also said to be keen on the 21-year-old, but former centre-back Stam is concerned Timber will struggle against Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

“The big advantage of United for Timber is that he already knows Ten Hag and vice versa,” Stam told the Dutch magazine. General Journal.

Former centre-back Stam is concerned that Timber will struggle against Harry Kane and Erling Haaland

“The coach’s intentions are molded to Timber, but make no mistake: this is the Premier League.

“You can’t always be dominant there, you have to duel much more against strikers like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

‘Everyone with Lisandro Martínez was also curious about that. It turns out he did.

“With Timber, I just miss a certain amount of aggression – sometimes even a little mean – in his game.

‘That includes, for example, giving the first blow before the real duels come. Martinez does. You can learn that too, but it has to be in you.’

However, Stam believes that his old club is the better option from United and the Reds.

He said: ‘You also have to look at combinations and chance of playing time.

United can still use a defender, also because Raphael Varane is injured and Harry Maguire is still disappointing.

“In England I see United as the most logical option. And what I would like to see more often is Timber as a right back.

“There are some at United where Dalot without the ball and Wan-Bissaka on the ball don’t quite convince me yet.”

The Dutch defender was previously linked with a transfer after the appointment of Erik ten Hag

In conversation with the Dutch newspaper The Telegraphsays Timber: ‘A transfer is getting closer, as it were.

‘There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax.

‘Last year Ajax asked me to stay for at least one more season and to extend my contract.

As a club boy I did that with love and after the season we will review the situation.’