Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt Hope Handed a Blow
The Red Devils’ pursuit of Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt has suffered a setback, with the German giants’ sporting director Max Eberl confirming that Hiroki Ito, another centre-back, will be out for a long time due to a broken foot. This has led to speculation that Bayern will be less likely to sell De Ligt to Manchester United.
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For those who may not know, De Ligt has been a long-time target for United, with personal terms reportedly agreed upon. Meanwhile, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked to the Red Devils, with Bayern valuing De Ligt at £42.4 million, plus add-ons.
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United have had two bids for Branthwaite rejected by Everton, with the Toffees reportedly demanding up to £80 million for the England international. However, Bayern’s need for De Ligt could be a game-changer, especially considering the Dutch defender has previously worked with United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax.
With Bayern aiming to sign at least one more centre-back, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah is reportedly their priority target. This could mean that De Ligt is more likely to stay at Bayern than previously thought, leaving United’s hopes of signing him hanging in the balance.
In light of these developments, the Old Trafford hierarchy may need to revisit their central defensive targets. Will they turn their attention back to Branthwaite, or will they look elsewhere to strengthen their backline? One thing is for sure – the transfer market is full of twists and turns, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this saga.
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