Manchester United are exploring a move for Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt.. De Ligt is keen to leave Bayern this summer and is seen by United as a potential alternative to Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
The Athletic reports the 24-year-old has emerged as a concrete target as United look to strengthen their defense. Transfer negotiations are yet to happen but Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag, who worked alongside the centre-back at Ajax, would welcome a reunion.
After Raphael Varane left as a free agent, United need central defensive reinforcements – particularly with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez missing spells of the season due to injury. The report adds De Ligt will be a more realistic summer transfer recruit than Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, who could cost more than £70 million ($89m).
The 6ft 2in player began his career at Ajax before moving to Juventus in 2019. After three years at the Serie A side, the Netherlands international moved to Bayern. In his relatively short career, he has won trophies with every club he has represented.
Dutch international De Ligt excelled playing under United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax between 2017 and 2019.
The United boss even named the central defender as his skipper, making him the youngest-ever captain of Ajax at 19 years and 186 days old. De Ligt went on to join Juventus in the summer of 2019 and spent three years in Turin before heading to Germany with Bayern Munich.
In his career, De Ligt has won league titles with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern, as well as the KNVB Cup in the Netherlands and the Coppa Italia.
It’s understood that a deal with Bayern could be realistic, even though the 24-year-old still has three years left on his deal.
This is after he was limited to just 30 appearances last term due to a knee injury.
De Ligt is currently in Germany for Euro 2024 having been named in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad. But he is yet to feature in the tournament having been an unused substitute in all three of Holland’s Group D matches.
Speaking ahead of the Euros, De Ligt remained tight-lipped over whether he could depart the Allianz Arena this summer.
In his words: “I’ve already said this is not the time for me to think about it. We’re playing at the Euros now and that’s very important for me and the national team.”
“But what I can say is that I’ve now played my second season at Bayern – I’m very happy. For now, I’m focused on the Euros and then we’ll see what happens.”
United have also been weighing up a move to sign Branthwaite from Everton.
Source: Talksport, Goal.com
