Manchester United keen on signing Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the club is keen on signing Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt in the summer. The Dutch manager has previously worked with the defender in the Dutch club Ajax, per 90 min.
Manchester United’s 2023–24 season under Dutch manager Ten Hag was one of the worst the club has had in the Premier League era, the Red Devils finished eighth in the league table with 60 points. Just months ago, Ten Hag seemed to be on his way out of the club, but an amazing performance in the 2024 FA Cup Final against Manchester City saw him regain the trust of the club and the fans.
The tactician has surprised the fans with his two signings of young sensations Joshu Zirkzee and Lenny Yoro, and he confirmed that the club has advanced talks with the German club Bayern Munich for De Ligt. The 24-year-old defender has previously worked with Ten Hag in Ajax, and the star defender was the captain of the Ajax under the Dutch manager.
De Ligt is another player United have been chasing for weeks, with the Dutchman prepared to leave Bayern Munich after a troubled two-year spell in Germany. He has a contract until 2027 with the German side and the defender is set for a move in the summer.
Ten Hag to bolster the defence
Manchester United have to bolster their defence after the departure of French defender Raphael Varane, and the club have sold Willy Kambwala to Villarreal.
Amidst all these departures in the backline, the Red Devils have started to bolster the squad with the young French starlet Lenny Yoro from Lille. The 18-year-old centre-back has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option for an additional 12 months. The club will add one more central defender squad in the summer.
”We still have to wait and see whether De Ligt will come, But the good thing is, during my vacation I was out of the process for three or four weeks. During that period it was really the club, the newly established scouting and recruitment department, that brought in these players.
”I know Matthijs well, of course, I’m not going to deny that, Two years ago I already wanted to get him, but he was already very far along with Bayern Munich. But believe it or not: he didn’t come specifically from my head in this process.”
Ten Hag told the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dadblad. If De Ligt moves to Old Trafford, will be following in the footsteps of fellow Ajax clubmates Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Andre Onana.
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Bolstering the defensive line is a primary duty for the Dutch manager, as the goalkeeper Onana missed several shots in the past season, and the manager doesn’t want to happen the same in the upcoming season. De Ligt can adapt to the style of Ten Hag quickly and also can be a mainstay in Old Trafford with Martinez.
