Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has hinted that he may be set for a transfer away from the Dutch club this summer.

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked with the 21-year-old in recent months and, while he wouldn’t go into details about a potential move, Timber suggested that things are happening behind the scenes:

‘No [nothing is going on currently], that’s always the case around this time of year. Unfortunately, I can’t say much about it yet. I don’t mean there’s nothing going on, but I can’t tell you anything yet.”

Liverpool are in the market for a centre-half, with doubts remaining over the futures of both Joel Matip and Joe Gomez who both had poor seasons for the Reds.

Timber could be an ideal signing as he also has the ability to play in multiple positions.

Providing cover for Trent

During his time at Ajax, Timber has also been deployed at right-back, meaning he would be able to fill in when Trent Alexander-Arnold is absent.

The Netherlands international is, arguably, pretty similar to Joe Gomez and, if Liverpool do pursue the Ajax star, you would have to think the Englishman’s time at Anfield may be coming to an end.

Timber won’t be available on the cheap

Although the centre-back is apparaently keen on leaving Ajax this summer, his club are unlikely to let him leave without a fight.

Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg confirmed in early May that Timber’s price tag is around €50m (£43m), which does raise questions about whether the Reds could afford him.

The Merseyside club’s priority is midfield, and you would expect that the vast majority of transfer funds will be invested in that area of the pitch. Shelling out a sizeable sum on a young defender doesn’t really seem like a realistic option.