Club Begins Negotiations for £42.5m Transfer Amid Defensive Overhaul
Manchester United have offered a five-year contract to Erik ten Hag’s dream signing, Matthijs de Ligt, and reports suggest it will be accepted soon. The club has begun talks with Bayern Munich over a transfer expected to cost around £42.5 million.
After an internal review of the 2023/24 season, manager Erik ten Hag is focusing on the summer transfer window. United is shifting its recruitment strategy to target younger, more ambitious players in their early to mid-twenties, moving away from signing older superstars with little resale value.
The center-back position is a priority, especially after Raphael Varane left for newly-promoted Serie A side Como. Victor Lindelof may also leave, with Everton and Fenerbahce showing interest as he enters the final year of his contract.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is United’s top target for central defense, and personal terms have been agreed upon, with Branthwaite set to earn around £150,000 a week if he joins. However, Manchester City might hijack the deal.
United might need two new center-backs if Lindelof also departs. Alongside Branthwaite, they are ramping up efforts to sign Matthijs de Ligt, who Ten Hag previously managed at Ajax. De Ligt, 24, is open to leaving Bayern after falling down their pecking order, and Bayern are willing to sell, having already signed Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart.
Negotiations between United and Bayern are advancing, with a potential deal worth €50 million (£42.5 million) in the works. De Ligt is expected to quickly agree to personal terms on a contract running until 2029.
Fans might wonder what this means for Branthwaite’s pursuit. However, journalist David Ornstein confirms that the De Ligt deal is independent of the ongoing interest in Branthwaite, indicating that both players could end up at Old Trafford.
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