Man United ‘offer Bayern Munich defender De Ligt a five-year deal’

• Man United reportedly offered Matthijs de Ligt a five-year contract at the club
• The Bayern Munich defender has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford
• LISTEN: Join us as we debate the BIGGEST talking points on It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY. Available wherever you get your podcasts 

Manchester United have reportedly offered Matthijs de Ligt a five-year deal as negotiations continue in their bid to sign the Bayern Munich star.

United have long been linked with the Dutchman, with reports earlier this week suggesting Erik ten Hag was ‘seriously considering’ a move to bring him to the Premier League.

De Ligt arrived at Bayern Munich in a £68m deal in 2022 but was limited to just 16 league starts last season as they failed to win the league for the first time in over a decade.

The former Ajax star has been earmarked as one of United’s top defensive targets this summer, alongside Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice.

According to a report from Dutch publication De Telegraaf, United have sent terms to De Ligt, with an agreement expected to be reached soon.

Discussions are said to be ongoing over the deal for the 24-year-old Netherlands international, who currently has three years remaining on his deal at the Allianz Arena.

After taking over at Ajax in 2018, Ten Hag made De Ligt the club’s youngest-ever captain as they went on to win both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup in the 2018-19 season. 

The Dutchman has reportedly had several telephone conversations with his former player as the move edges closer to completion.

Should the move be completed, De Ligt would join fellow ex-Ajax stars Antony, Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana at Old Trafford.

Despite any move for De Ligt likely requiring a significant outlay, United’s pursuit of the former Juventus defender is not thought to affect their ongoing move for Branthwaite.

The club  are currently in the process of preparing a second move for the Everton starlet after a £43m was knocked back by the Toffees.

Everton are believed to be holding out for a fee of closer to £70m for the 21-year-old who enjoyed a breakout campaign last term.

United are intent on strengthening their defensive options after an injury crisis towards the end of last season repeatedly left the club exposed at the back.

Casemiro has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford after he was the target of repeated criticism during the final weeks of the campaign as he was forced to fill in at centre-back.

Meanwhile Raphael Varane departed the club after United opted not to offer the 31-year-old a new contract, and is now close to completing a deal to join Serie A new boys Como.