De Ligt’s sole priority is securing a move to Old Trafford, with talks ongoing exclusively with Manchester United.
Bayern are wanting £42m for De Ligt, who is open to the move due to limited playing time with Bayern.
Van der Gaag’s contract has been terminated, with ex-Man Utd striker Ruud van Nistelrooy set to join coaching staff.
Manchester United are eyeing at least one new centre-back this summer as a means of bolstering Erik ten Hag’s central defensive choices next campaign and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, while speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT, has revealed that target Matthijs de Ligt’s sole priority is on a switch to Old Trafford.
Raphael Varane’s departure and Everton’s firm stance on their £70 million plus price tag for Jarrad Branthwaite means that the clamour around the Dutchman’s prospective summer switch from Germany to England is as rife as ever.Man Utd Latest: Matthijs de Ligt
Bayern will hold out for fee of £42m
Having fallen down the pecking order at the Allianz Arena with the arrivals of former Red Devils target Kim-min Jae and Eric Dier, it is widely understood that De Ligt – who still has three years remaining on his contract – is ‘open’ to an Old Trafford switch this summer.
In 2023/24 alone, De Ligt was limited to 22 appearances in the Bundesliga, which equates to 1,387 minutes, and will be looking to earn senior minutes in Greater Manchester alongside former Ajax man Lisandro Martinez.
De Ligt, Dier, Kim, Upamecano – 23/24 League Stats
Statistic De Ligt Dier Kim Upamecano
Minutes 1,391 1,167 1,971 1,765
Goals/Assists 2/0 0/0 1/1 1/0
Average passes per game 54 75.3 85.2 71.8
Pass success rate (%) 94 91.9 93 92.7
Aerials won per game 1.9 2.3 3 1.7
Tackles per game 0.7 0.7 1.5 1.4
Interceptions per game 0.9 0.7 1.8 0.8
Overall rating 6.68 6.71 7.03 6.62
According to Manchester Evening News, personal terms between the would-be buyers and the defender in question, de Ligt, have been verbally agreed, while the report also suggests that Bayern are wanting to receive a figure around the £42 million mark for his capable services.
Branthwaite, of course, remains a huge target for the Red Devils with the Carlisle-born centre-half possessing a quality that De Ligt, called “world-class” by Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, does not – Premier League experience. Lille’s Leny Yoro, who is also admired by Real Madrid, is also of interest to the three-time Champions League winners.It seems like Matthijs de Ligt is focused on joining Manchester United this summer, with talks progressing exclusively with the club. Bayern Munich is reportedly seeking around £42 million for him, as he looks for more playing time after being sidelined in the Bundesliga last season. Meanwhile, Manchester United is also pursuing alternatives like Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton and Leny Yoro from Lille, indicating a strategic focus on bolstering their central defensive options ahead of the new season under Erik ten Hag’s management.
