Matthijs De Ligt has been heavily linked with a move away from Bayern Munich in recent weeks for this summer’s transfer window. The towering Dutch center back is reportedly on a list of players that new manager Vincent Kompany considers up for sale and De Ligt has been linked with a potential reunion with Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United in the Premier Leauge. The two worked with one another earlier in their careers at Ajax before De Ligt went on to Juventus and then Bayern.
For United, they are in need of defensive reinforcements since Raphael Varane left the club after the end of this past season, and De Ligt would be a like-for-like replacement for the 2018 World Cup winner. Fellow center back Victor Lindelof is also linked with a move away from old Trafford as Fenerbache in Turkey are showing interest in trying to sign him during this summer’s transfer window. Either way, Ten Hag and company are looking to bring in high quality talent.
However, per new information from The Athletic (via @iMiaSanMia), De Ligt may not be top priority:
While Matthijs de Ligt’s history with Erik ten Hag cannot be ignored entirely, there are other centre-backs higher up Manchester United’s list of priorities [@TheAthleticFC]
United have already had an initial bid rejected by Everton for Jarrad Branthwaite, but it has become clear that one of their top priorities this summer is signing him. Everton are asking for roughly 70-million pounds for the defender, so it remains to be seen whether or not United could negotiate that fee down. The Red Devils have also shown interest in Crystal Palace center back Marc Guehi, who has deputized quite well for England thus far alongside John Stones at EURO 2024.
This still might not mean De Ligt has a high chance of staying at Bayern this summer, but it looks like it may not be a move to Manchester United after all.