Manchester United and Bayern Munich are in talks over the potential transfer of central defender Matthijs de Ligt. We don’t have an agreement, or even a clear set price yet for the Netherlands international, but we’re rapidly getting there.
De Ligt wants the move, and thus it is very likely going to happen, but there is obviously still some work that needs to be done on the deal yet.
?? Been told Manchester United and FC Bayern are now in contact about a permanent deal of Matthijs de Ligt! #MUFC
Understand De Ligt‘s agent Rafaela Pimenta working on a top solution. De Ligt, keen to join ManUtd and Ten Hag as reported – but there are no total agreements… pic.twitter.com/1d1cQUWyHd
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 1, 2024
Here is the latest update, via Sky Sports Germany transfer expert Florian Plettenberg. Given the budget limitations that United are likely to have in the transfer window, unless they start making some major sales, United will likely struggle to meet Bayern’s reported asking price of about €50 million.
United were pretty weak in central defense to begin with, but now Raphael Varane is gone, Victor Lindelof could be out the door as well while Harry Maguire is very unreliable.
United are also keen on Jarrad Branthwaite, but the asking price from Everton is too high. There is speculation that United could sign both De Ligt and Branthwaite, but that doesn’t seem financially pragmatic right now.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.