Manchester United have been hit with another crushing blow in their efforts to sign Jurrien Timber as the new Ajax boss claimed the defender was staying at the club. 

Erik ten Hag has made the 20-year-old defender a top priority as he looks to boost United's faltering defence. 

Timber has already established himself as a regular starter for Ajax, and has appeared eight times for Holland since his debut last year. 

Manchester United have suffered another big setback in their pursuit of Ajax's Jurrien Timber

But after continuing to pursue Timber despite him being warned off a move to Old Trafford by Holland coach Louis van Gaal, United have suffered yet another setback after new Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder claimed the young star was staying in Amsterdam.

'I have spoken with Jurrien and I am assuming he is staying at Ajax,' Schreuder told .

'Timber is a smart guy and he knows what is best for himself. We think he is not done at Ajax yet.'

The comments come after Timber was reportedly ready to make a £30million move to the Red Devils last week, only for ex-United boss Van Gaal to indicate that moving to Manchester could harm the defender's World Cup hopes. 

Speaking to

🗣️ "Louis Van Gaal made it clear that he would not be in his Dutch team if he wasn't playing every week for United"

Marcel Van Der Kraan reports that Louis Van Gaal may have affected Jurrien Timber's potential transfer to Manchester United ❌ pic.twitter.com/Gtn1sOuV2M

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 19, 2022

'The talks were very good, money was never a problem but then Louis van Gaal turned up and told the player in the Dutch camp "if you go there I think your chances could be limited for playing for Holland in the World Cup".'

Schreuder's new comments are another embarrassing blow in what have become a series of missed transfer opportunities at Manchester United this summer. 

The Timber deal now appears dead in the water, while several other targets - Darwin Nunez, Frenkie de Jong, Christian Eriksen and Malcolm Ebiowei among others - have either moved to other clubs or not yet put pen to paper on a deal at Old Trafford. 

Ten Hag is also wrangling with Ajax to sign winger Antony, with the Brazilian wanting a move but the Dutch champions slapping a £68m price tag on him. 

While there is frustration over Timber, United are in the running to sign Juventus centre-back and ex-Ajax star Matthijs De Ligt, although Chelsea are also interested.