Manchester United’s Double Bid for Bayern Stars De Ligt and Mazraoui Rejected – ‘Bemusement’ Ensues
Manchester United have had their opening double bid for Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui rejected, leaving the Dutch pair’s futures up in the air. The Red Devils are desperate to bolster their defense, and the Bundesliga pair are high on their wanted list.
De Ligt, a former Ajax star, has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for some time, and United boss Erik ten Hag has already spoken publicly about his admiration for the defender. In an interview with Dutch publication AD Sportwereld, Ten Hag said: "I know Matthijs well, of course, I’m not going to deny that. Two years ago I wanted to get him, but he was already very far along with Bayern Munich."
Personal terms are already in place for both players, with five-year contracts featuring an option to extend by 12 months, according to The Athletic. United are reportedly willing to offer De Ligt a whopping £42.4 million, plus add-ons, while Mazraoui could depart for around £20 million.
Bayern, however, have made it clear that neither player is part of their plans this summer, leaving United’s double bid firmly in the ‘ rejected’ pile. The Bundesliga side’s decision has left De Ligt and Mazraoui, who are both represented by the same agent, Rafaela Pimenta, in a state of "bemusement".
The pair have been left scratching their heads as to why Bayern have refused to sell, despite United’s offer meeting their valuation. The situation has sparked intense speculation about the pair’s futures, with United’s willingness to pay top dollar for their services only adding fuel to the fire.
De Ligt, in particular, is a huge fan of Ten Hag, who he worked under at Ajax. The defender has praised the former Ajax boss for his ability to improve players, saying: "He is someone who loves his job and he loves to work. He’s really into the details. This makes him a really good trainer. He has a lot of qualities (to succeed). He definitely improves players. He wants to do everything to make his team play better."
With the transfer window set to slam shut in a matter of weeks, time is running out for United to land their top targets. Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates on the latest transfer news and rumors.