De Ligt Now ‘Keen to Join’ Man Utd

Manchester United have received a beacon of hope in their pursuit of a new centre-back with Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg revealing that Bayern Munich ace Matthijs de Ligt is keen to join the Old Trafford-based outfit this summer.

Following the departure of Raphael Varane, the heart of defence, alongside a new central midfielder and striker, has been identified as a position in need of strengthening this summer, per The Athletic.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co are keen to hit the ground running in their new venture with Dan Ashworth now expected to join the club immediately, and securing the services of De Ligt could be a wise way to kick-start their transfer proceedings.

Plettenberg: De Ligt ‘Keen’ on Man Utd Move

No agreement reached yet

Amid an influx of centre-halves in Bavaria, De Ligt has found game time harder to come by in recent seasons. In 2023/24 alone, the former Ajax academy prospect played 30 games across all competitions – just 22 in the Bundesliga – which highlights how far down the pecking order he is.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Plettenberg revealed that both sides are in open dialogue over a permanent deal for the imposing Dutchman, described as ‘world-class’ by Bayern sporting director Cristoph Freund, with the player in question keen to secure a move to Old Trafford too.

De Ligt played a total of 70 times under Ten Hag during their time shared in the Eredivisie with perennial champions Ajax and his lack of game time, combined with his willingness to move this summer, could mean that a reunion between the compatriots could be on the cards.

Dutch publication De Telegraaf have reported that Manchester United have offered a five-year deal to De Ligt in the hopes of securing his services in the coming weeks, with the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano revealing that contact has been made with the defender’s representatives.

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite also remains a top priority for Erik ten Hag and his entourage, though his employers’ reluctance to sell him less than he is valued at may prevent a deal from being struck.

Man Utd Reach Agreement For Dan Ashworth

53-year-old expected to start immediately

As alluded to earlier, after months of to-ing and fro-ing, Manchester United have reached an agreement to appoint Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director – a role previously held by John Murtough.

His previous employers, Newcastle United, were initially holding out for a compensation fee of £20 million – a figure that the 20-time English champions believed was ‘incredible’ – which had proved to be a stumbling block in negotiations.

Related

Man Utd Have Now Agreed Deal to Appoint Dan Ashworth

After months of speculation and unrest, Manchester United have reached an agreement with Newcastle United for Dan Ashworth.

Ashworth, formerly of Brighton & Hove Albion, is expected to start his work at Old Trafford – which will include overseeing football performance, recruitment and operations – immediately following the breaking news.