Jurrien Timber has rejected Man Utd transfer

Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan has confirmed that Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has decided to snub interest from Manchester United amid fears of missing out on the World Cup.

The central defender has been one of United's top targets for the transfer window, but Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal recently warned him over moving to Old Trafford this summer.

Van der Kraan has now revealed that the proposed deal for Timber is 'absolutely dead in the water'. The 21-year-old fears he could miss out on the World Cup if he struggles at United.

He told Sky Sports: "Absolutely dead in the water. The player I think was ready to come, his agents went over to London, to United's officers two weeks ago, had very good talks. The money was never a problem." 

"But then one man turned up, Louis van Gaal. He told the player in the Dutch camp, look if you go there I think your chances could be limited for playing for Holland in the World Cup three months later."

The news will come as a big blow for United, who have yet to make any signing this summer. It is still too early in the transfer window, but the club have not had made much progress with targets.

Barring Frenkie de Jong, the club are not in negotiations for any other player. They were seriously interested in Timber and Darwin Nunez, but the latter rejected their advances for arch-rivals Liverpool.