Manchester United in ‘discussions’ over discount Matthijs De Ligt deal: report

Manchester United have held ‘discussions’ over the opportunity of bringing Matthijs De Ligt to Previous Trafford this summer time on a budget.

The Netherlands defender is presently away on worldwide responsibility at Euro 2024, having failed to begin for his nation on the event up to now. Whereas he competes with Stefan De Vrij, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake and Micky van de Ven for game-time for his nation, nonetheless, minutes for Bayern Munich could also be tougher to return by subsequent time period underneath Vincent Kompany, too. 

In response to Kicker over in Germany, the rock on the coronary heart of Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga-winning backline, Jonathan Tah, is a significant goal for the Bavarians. This might depart De Ligt as an expendable asset on the market.  

Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg has posted on X (previously Twitter) that De Ligt is a switch goal for Manchester United together with Jarrad Branthwaite and Leny Yoro – and he could also be much more attainable than each. 

“Erik ten Hag remains to be an awesome admirer of De Ligt who can depart Bayern this summer time with an acceptable provide,” Plettenberg says of the scenario, including that Die Roten’s concept of such a bid is round €50 million.

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This price appears notably low, contemplating that the previous Kopa Trophy winner was reportedly purchased for €67m, with €10m of performance-related bonuses included within the switch.

De Ligt was Ten Hag’s Ajax captain again within the Netherlands, skippering the Amsterdammers’ 2026/17 run to the Europa League last run and 2018/19 marketing campaign during which they reached an unlikely Champions League semi-final. Signing the star now can also appeal to former team-mate Frenkie De Jong, too, who has been a goal for Ten Hag ever since he took the Previous Trafford job in 2022. 

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, that is one deal that feels cheap at face worth however which can rise when agent charges and wages are thought-about, too. With United trying into lower-profile stars like Rasmus Hojlund over Harry Kane final summer time, it might be that De Ligt breaks their wage construction and that signing a youthful mannequin in Jarrad Branthwaite could price extra in switch price however represents higher worth for cash.

Nonetheless, De Ligt’s hyperlinks to Ten Hag and seeming availability this summer time imply that he’s undoubtedly a superb backup possibility for the United centre-back shortlist.

The 24-year-old is valued at €65 million by Transfermarkt. 

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