Matthijs de Ligt is eager to make a move to Manchester United, with Bayern Munich open to sanctioning his departure.
A switch to Old Trafford would reunite the Dutch defender with Erik ten Hag, who played a significant role in de Ligt’s development at Ajax. Despite high expectations, de Ligt’s career has stagnated, and Manchester United see an opportunity to acquire him for a much lower fee than anticipated.
Bayern Munich originally signed de Ligt for £68 million from Juventus, but he has struggled to make a significant impact and now finds himself behind Eric Dier in the pecking order. According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United believes they can secure his services for just over £40 million.
The German club is looking to sign Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen, who is currently away on international duty at the Euros. To fund this acquisition, Bayern is willing to part with de Ligt.
Manchester United plan to utilize de Ligt on the right side of their central defense, potentially pairing him with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. United remains hopeful of signing the young English defender, provided they can gather the necessary funds.
Erik ten Hag previously enjoyed success with de Ligt at Ajax, winning multiple titles in the Netherlands and reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, where de Ligt scored a memorable winner against Juventus in the quarter-finals.
With sporting director Dan Ashworth now in place after an agreement with Newcastle, United’s transfer activities are set to intensify. Their primary target for a striker is Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, who has a £34 million buyout clause, while PSG’s Manuel Ugarte is under consideration for midfield reinforcement.
Ten Hag faced numerous challenges with his defense last season, with frequent injuries contributing to a poor defensive record. Raphael Varane’s recent departure from Manchester, following several injury-plagued years, has further emphasized the need for defensive reinforcements.
Despite Manchester United missing out on Champions League football next season, this has not deterred de Ligt from considering a move to the Premier League giants. His potential arrival could significantly bolster United’s defense and provide a much-needed boost for the upcoming season.
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