Manchester United have already strengthened their backline with the impressive signing of promising young defender Leny Yoro from Lille. However, it appears that their transfer business on centre-backs is still not done, and they have interesting plans for Matthijs de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Manchester United Make Plan for Potential Matthijs de Ligt Transfer
United’s ‘Condition’ for Signing Centre-Backs
Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Red Devils are open to bringing in another centre-back to bolster their backline ahead of the 2024/25 season. However, it’s claimed that for them to proceed with signing another defender, the club will first have to sell players and make up the necessary room and funds for another high-profile defensive acquisition.
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The journalist states that Bayern Munich defender de Ligt remains in their transfer targets, but the Red Devils refuse to be dictated on that deal. He claims that they would only proceed at their “conditions” and are determined not to overpay for him. Romano also adds that a similar stance is taken on their pursuit of Everton’s Branthwaite, for whom they have reportedly had two offers rejected already. The Toffees are demanding £70 million to let their star centre-back leave, something that United refuse to pay.
What Has Ten Hag Said About de Ligt?
Ten Hag made some interesting comments on de Ligt recently and confirmed that his side are in pursuit of signing the Dutch defender. He told AD Sportwereld: “It remains to be seen whether de Ligt will come. I know Matthijs well and I will not deny that. I wanted to sign him two years ago, but at that time he was already very far along to join Bayern Munich (from Juventus) but believe it or not, his name did not come from me in the process (of targeting signings)”.
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It’s clear that the United boss wants to reunite with de Ligt at Old Trafford; he worked with him and promoted him into the limelight at Ajax. The Dutch defender won the Eredivisie under ten Hag and played a key role in the Ajax side that reached the semi-final of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League too. The Red Devils have already offloaded their French defenders Willy Kambwala and Raphael Varane; they might need another solid centre-back to fix the messy defensive situation that caused them to concede over 80 goals last season.
