With Manchester United currently in the market for a new centre-back, one name that has cropped up again is that of Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt.
According to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany, the former Ajax captain remains a transfer target for United this summer.
Plettenberg states the 24-year-old Dutch international is “one of many names being discussed internally alongside Jarrad Branthwaite and Leny Yoro“.
Erik ten Hag previously worked with the player and thinks highly of him, with Bayern open to a sale with a suitable offer.
The reported valuation is around €50 million (42 million pounds) – a similar price to what United values Everton star Branthwaite.
Long-standing interest
The Leiderdorp native was touted with a move to Manchester in 2019 following confirmation of his departure from Ajax.
After weeks of speculation, he opted for Italian giants Juventus – where he would spend the next three years.
When Ten Hag took the reigns at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, rumours of a move to the Premier League resurfaced.
Once more, the 6ft’2 defender had other intentions and signed a five-year deal with German champions Bayern Munich for a reported fee of €67 million.
Injury Concerns
There are some question marks on the Dutchman’s injury history, as he has tended to miss clusters of games throughout his career.
He appears to suffer from niggles and knocks that keep him out for a few games at a time rather than severe long-term injuries.
However, back in 2020-21, he endured a shoulder issue that caused him to miss 17 games and 101 days for Juventus and the Netherlands.
Is he worth the risk?
While De Ligt is right-footed, he is perfectly capable of playing on both sides of defence – and is an alternative option to Branthwaite.
The Bundesliga star is calm in possession and confident in distribution – complying with a style of play to accommodate the system Ten Hag is trying to achieve at Old Trafford.
Furthermore, his strength, leadership, aggressiveness, aerial ability and tackling would prove invaluable in cultivating a partnership with Lisandro Martinez.
€50m is an attractive fee for an experienced player, but Bayern spent an initial €67m to recruit his services just two years ago and could demand more.
A loan move would ideally work best for United – as the club certainly won’t want to splash out on a player who spends ample time in the treatment room.
Whether Bayern will be willing to negotiate over a temporary switch remains to be seen.
It’s an avenue to watch as the summer progresses and hinges on the situation with Branthwaite.
Who would you prefer at the heart of our defence? Let us know in the comments or across our socials.
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