Manchester United in Matthijs De Ligt talks with Bayern Munich
Manchester United and Bayern Munich are currently discussing the potential transfer of Matthijs de Ligt.
The news about United's interest was first reported by The Athletic on June 28, and now the Premier League team has started official talks with the German club.
De Ligt, a 24-year-old defender in the center, has caught the attention of United since he started his career at Ajax before moving to Juventus in 2019. The Dutch player spent three years in Italy before transferring to Bayern and played in 30 games for the Bundesliga team last season.
United is very interested in signing De Ligt, who played for Ajax when Erik ten Hag was the manager. Ten Hag also wants to bring De Ligt to Old Trafford.
De Ligt has a contract with Bayern until 2027, but it is more probable that the transfer fee will be more reasonable compared to other choices like Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. United has put forward an offer of £35million plus £8m in additional payments for Branthwaite, and despite Everton's reluctance to sell for less than their asking price of £70m, the offer is still on the table.
Even though United's interest in De Ligt is separate from their pursuit of Branthwaite, the Dutch player is seen as a promising option to improve the team's defense.
A joint effort was made to acquire Everton's Branthwaite last month.
United are considering different choices for their defense, but they are unable to bring in Jean-Clair Tobido from Nice. Real Madrid is currently in the best position to secure the signing of Lille's Leny Yoro.
Whether or not United is able to add one or two new players to their central defense will rely on player exits. These departures are necessary to raise funds and create room in the squad.
Matthijs de Ligt has plenty of time ahead of him to live up to his extraordinary talent.
United's Interest In De Ligt
One of United's top goals for the summer transfer window is to bolster Ten Hag's defense.
Raphael Varane has departed the team since the decision was made not to extend his contract, leaving United with one less centre-back.
Lisandro Martinez was out of action for much of the previous season because of injuries, while Harry Maguire also had some fitness problems that kept him sidelined. As a result, Maguire did not secure a spot on the England squad for the current European Championship.
Ten Hag had to rely on Willy Kambwala, a 19-year-old player who came up through the club's youth system, to step in and help out while Victor Lindelof was also unavailable during the season.
The backline injuries greatly affected United's performance during the 2023-24 season, and they are determined to avoid a repeat next season.
Six ex-Manchester United players share their opinions on the main problem that Ten Hag needs to address.
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Dan Sheldon writes about football news for The Athletic, specifically focusing on Manchester City and Manchester United. Previously, he covered Southampton FC for four years, including two years at the Southern Daily Echo. You can find him on Twitter @dansheldonsport.
