Manchester United have reportedly made their first offer to Matthijs de Ligt with the defender now waiting on Bayern Munich to agree a transfer fee with the Red Devils. Erik ten Hag is said to have made signing De Ligt a priority this summer, having previously worked with the Dutchman at Ajax.
It is claimed that United have offered the 24-year-old a five-year contract. An agreement is reportedly likely to be reached between the Premier League club and the player, who is currently at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands.
De Ligt’s representatives remain in discussions with United. According to Dutch publication De Telegaaf, the former Juventus defender is waiting on both clubs to agree a transfer fee, which would give him the green light to complete a move to England.
Bayern paid £65m to sign De Ligt from Juventus in 2022. However, wide-ranging reports suggest that United will not have to pay as substantial a fee as that to lure him from Germany.
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De Ligt came through the Ajax academy and played under Ten Hag in Amsterdam. He was key to the Eredivisie side’s run to the semi-final of the Champions League under United’s current boss in 2018-19.
Injuries limited De Ligt to only 22 Bundesliga appearances last season. Eric Dier is widely expected to join Bayern after leaving Tottenham on a free transfer, while the Bavarians have also been strongly linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah.
Defensive reinforcements are high on United's agenda for the summer transfer window. An injury crisis meant that Ten Hag was never able to pick from a fully fit set of defenders last season.
United seem likely to be priced out of a move for Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite as things stand, having seen an offer of £35m turned down by their Premier League rivals. INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has insisted that the club will not be forced to overpay for their targets this summer.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils seem set to finally land sporting director Dan Ashworth. The former FA technical director was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle earlier this year, with the Magpies demanding a huge fee for the brains of their sporting operation.
Ashworth only joined Newcastle in the aftermath of the Saudi Arabian-led takeover at St. James' Park in 2022. However, he was tempted by a move to United following INEOS's purchase of a 27.7 per cent stake in January. The Athletic report that a deal for Ashworth is now expected to be agreed.
