Matthijs de Ligt’s stance on Manchester United transfer comes to light with no Champions League football on offer next season: Reports
Matthijs de Ligt is open to joining Manchester United even without UEFA Champions League football next season, according to Fabrizio Romano. Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg has already reported on multiple occasions that the Red Devils are pushing to sign De Ligt.
The central defender, who worked with Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has emerged as a top transfer target for United. He is currently a key player for Bayern Munich and has so far made 73 appearances for the club since his 2022 move from Juventus.
De Ligt, the youngest debutant in the history of the Dutch national team, is one of the best defenders around in world football. In 2023-24, he made 30 appearances for the Bavarians, helping Thomas Tuchel's side keep nine clean sheets.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are looking to bolster their defense. Raphael Varane has left the club while Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire could head the exit door. Reinforcing the defense is one of the Red Devils' priorities for next season.
They have been linked with players like Jarrad Branthwaite and Jean-Clair Todibo. However, Branthwaite's asking price from Everton has stalled their pursuit. Meanwhile, UEFA's multi-club ownership rule has prevented United from buying Todibo from INEOS-owned OGC Nice.
De Ligt is contracted with Bayern until the end of the 2026-27 season. According to Transfermarkt, he has an estimated market value of €65 million.
How many games did Matthijs de Ligt play under current Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag?
Matthijs de Ligt was one of the key players of Erik ten Hag's Ajax side that earned plaudits from the entire European football. He made 70 appearances under Ten Hag at Ajax.
Since then, De Ligt has been an important player for clubs like Bayern Munich and Juventus. However, as Fabrizio Romano reported, Bayern are open to selling the Dutch defender for the right price.
De Ligt, alongside Lisandro Martinez, could form a solid defensive partnership at Manchester United. He is still only 24 and the prior working experience with Ten Hag could also be a massive positive for the Red Devils.