According to reports, Manchester United has put up a contract proposal for Matthijs de Ligt, a defender for Bayern Munich, with the intention of signing the Dutchman this summer. Manchester United's second season under Erik ten Hag did not turn out nearly as well as expected because of the team's constant injury woes, particularly in their already porous defence.
The Red Devils had been searching for a new centre-back since French World Cup champion Raphael Varane left, and Ten Hag supposedly wants to reunite with De Ligt, another among his former Ajax teammates. According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Manchester United's senior brass agree with Ten Hag and have put forth an initial contract offer for De Ligt in anticipation of the Dutchman's summer transfer.
De Ligt left Ajax in the summer of 2019 for a projected €85.5 million transfer to Juventus. This came after a fantastic season in which he captained Ten Hag's brilliant squad to a thrilling journey into the UEFA Champions League semifinal and the domestic double.
During the summer of 2022, he moved to Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old has battled with form and fitness since leaving the Johan Cruijff ArenA, so life has not been as kind to him. According to the source, De Ligt will sign up for the Red Devils and will receive a five-year contract; further information is not yet available.
Manchester United set to initiate talks with Bayern Munich for Matthijs de Ligt
Nevertheless, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's team will first need to settle a transfer price dispute with Bayern Munich about the 24-year-old, who is still under obligation with Der Rekordmeister through 2027. Currently playing for Ronald Koeman's Netherlands team, the center back will take the field today, when they take on Romania in the round of 16.
The transfer might not be a cheap one but it will certainly be less than what Juventus paid for the centre-back in 2019. Erik Ten Hag and INEOS would be hoping that the deal can be done under 50 million which will help them to fund more signings in the transfer window.