Manchester United are very busy in the transfer market, having already made a few signings, but more are expected in the near future.
The club is reportedly looking to bring in another centre-back after signing Leny Yoro.
Manager Erik ten Hag is keen on reuniting with Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich.
Bayern’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, recently indicated that De Ligt could be heading to Manchester United to join his former manager.
In an interview with journalist Florian Plettenberg, Hoeness mentioned, “It’s possible that a defender will leave. De Ligt is Dutch, and so is the Manchester United coach. I would be fine if he stays, but personally, I would not sell Upamecano.”
De Ligt, a product of Ajax’s renowned academy, has verbally agreed to a five-year contract with United.
He has instructed his agent to refrain from negotiating with any other European clubs.
United’s initial bid of £29.5m for De Ligt was rejected by Bayern, who are holding out for at least £42m plus add-ons for the 24-year-old defender.
Despite the initial setback, a middle ground between the two clubs seems achievable.
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Bayern has reportedly identified Jonathan Tah as a potential replacement for De Ligt but needs to secure funds from De Ligt’s sale to proceed.
United is likely to make a renewed bid, and an offer around £33.7m plus bonuses could potentially persuade Bayern to agree to the transfer.
De Ligt will be an invaluable asset to Manchester United.
He is renowned for his exceptional distribution skills, boasting an impressive passing accuracy of nearly 94 percent in the Bundesliga last season.
His aerial prowess and ability to make clearances further enhance his defensive capabilities.
Although not exceptionally fast, De Ligt averages three recoveries per game thanks to his excellent positioning.
At United, De Ligt could emerge as a starting centre-back, potentially ahead of Leny Yoro.
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The club aims to manage the expectations placed on the young Frenchman, who is already aware of these plans.
The addition of De Ligt would add stability and depth to Manchester United’s defence and in turn make him as a crucial figure for their ambitions this season.
De Ligt seems increasingly likely to join the Red Devils ahead of their new campaign, and bringing in a player like De Ligt signals that United will perform really well in both domestic competitions as well as fighting for UEFA Europa League glory.
