Subham Poddar
Manchester United has made a significant move by reportedly offering Bayern Munich’s defender Matthijs de Ligt a five-year contract. This potential acquisition is part of Erik ten Hag’s strategy to strengthen United’s defense, reuniting with another former Ajax player.
De Ligt’s name has been linked with a transfer to Old Trafford for some time. Reports earlier this week suggested that Ten Hag is keen on bringing the Dutch defender to the Premier League.
The 24-year-old joined Bayern Munich in a £68 million deal in 2022. However, his time at Bayern has been challenging, with only 16 league starts last season as the club missed out on the Bundesliga title for the first time in over a decade.
Identified as a priority target, De Ligt is among several defenders United is eyeing this summer, alongside Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo. Dutch outlet De Telegraaf has reported that United has already presented terms to De Ligt, and an agreement is expected soon.
If the deal goes through, De Ligt will join a growing list of former Ajax players now at United, including Antony, Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana. Ten Hag, who managed Ajax from 2017 to 2022, had appointed De Ligt as the youngest captain in Ajax’s history, leading them to an Eredivisie and KNVB Cup double in the 2018-19 season.
Negotiations are ongoing, with De Ligt still having three years left on his contract with Bayern. This move demonstrates Ten Hag’s commitment to reinforcing United’s defense, despite the substantial investment it would require.
In addition to De Ligt, United continues to pursue other defensive targets. The club is reportedly preparing a second bid for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite after an initial £43 million offer was rejected. Everton is said to be holding out for closer to £70 million for the 21-year-old defender, who had a standout season last term.
This summer’s transfer activities underline Manchester United’s ambition to build a robust squad capable of competing at the highest level, with Erik ten Hag drawing on familiar faces from his successful Ajax tenure to achieve this goal.
