Manchester United’s pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt has received approval despite concerns raised by his former teammate Giorgio Chiellini.
The Red Devils are actively pursuing the Dutchman to bolster their options in central defense. A deal with Bayern Munich appears imminent, with United growing increasingly confident in securing De Ligt’s signature.
Should the move materialize, it would reunite the defender with his former Ajax manager. As negotiations progress, Alan Shearer has voiced his support, believing De Ligt would be an excellent addition to United.
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer stated, “Matthijs de Ligt has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, and I think he would be a good signing for Man United. He’s a really solid player.”
Shearer continued, “I know he hasn’t been able to secure a spot in the Dutch team, but he would be a valuable addition for Man United. I like him a lot, and I believe his style of play would suit the Premier League.”
De Ligt’s challenging situation at Euro 2024 has garnered significant attention. While named in Ronald Koeman’s final 26-man squad, he has found himself on the sidelines during their journey to the semi-finals.
The centre-back has yet to feature, with Koeman favoring a partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij. De Ligt’s former Juventus colleague Chiellini expressed surprise at his limited role.
Chiellini commented, as quoted by Voetbal Primeur, “I never expected him not to be a regular player. If these choices are being made, developmental challenges may be facing him.”
He added, “From what I’ve seen, he’s not a player who should be sitting on the bench in such teams. While we can critique the coaches’ decisions, they observe his performances daily.”
Despite these uncertainties, Ten Hag has affirmed De Ligt’s importance, planning to build his defense around a partnership with Lisandro Martinez.
Moreover, De Ligt may not be the only central defender arriving at Old Trafford this summer. United also retain interest in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. Their initial bid of £35m plus add-ons was rejected, prompting an increased offer of £45m plus £5m in add-ons this week. However, Everton seeks around £75m for Branthwaite’s transfer.
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