Matthijs de Ligt might soon reunite with Erik ten Hag, as Manchester United considers signing the defender at a discounted price. De Ligt is reportedly eager to make the move to Old Trafford.
Matthijs de Ligt is eager to join Manchester United, facilitated by Bayern Munich's readiness to approve his departure.
Should the move to Old Trafford materialize, de Ligt would reunite with Erik ten Hag, his mentor from Ajax where he began his career. Once highly touted, the defender's progress has slowed, prompting Manchester United to pursue him at a potentially lower cost than initially anticipated.
Bayern Munich invested £68 million to acquire De Ligt from Juventus a few summers back. However, despite his transfer to the Allianz Arena, he has struggled to meet expectations and now finds himself playing second fiddle to Eric Dier. The Daily Mail reports that Manchester United are considering a move to sign him for slightly more than £40 million.
Bayern Munich are keen on securing Jonathan Tah, the Bundesliga champion with Bayer Leverkusen. Tah, currently busy with international duties at the Euros, commands a substantial price tag, prompting Bayern to consider selling in order to fund the move.
Manchester United are reportedly interested in deploying De Ligt on the right side of a central defensive partnership, potentially alongside Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite. This move aligns with their ongoing pursuit of the young English defender, contingent upon their ability to secure the necessary funds.
During their previous collaboration, Ten Hag and De Ligt enjoyed considerable success in the Netherlands, securing multiple honors. Additionally, under Ten Hag's guidance, Ajax advanced to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, with De Ligt notably scoring a decisive goal against Juventus in the quarter-finals.
United's transfer activities are anticipated to accelerate following the arrival of sporting director Dan Ashworth. They have successfully reached an agreement with Newcastle and are poised to intensify their recruitment efforts. Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna, with a buyout clause of £34m, emerges as their primary target for a new striker. Additionally, they are weighing midfield options, with Manuel Ugarte from PSG being considered.