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The Athletic's David Ornstein has suggested Manchester United's interest in Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt is growing, and they could soon move for him. The Dutchman has long been on the Red Devils' radar and could reunite with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.
Ornstein claims De Ligt is seen as a viable candidate to help strengthen Ten Hag's attack this summer. He wrote:
"Manchester United are seriously considering a move to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old centre-back is viewed as an increasingly viable candidate as United’s efforts to strengthen their back line intensify."
De Ligt, 24, is considered one of European football's most consistent central defenders. He enjoyed a meteoric rise under Ten Hag at Ajax, captaining the Eredivisie giants at the age of 19.
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Ornstein stressed that there have been no negotiations between the two European giants as of yet, but he is a concrete target. He appeared 30 times across competitions last season, helping his side keep nine clean sheets, with two goals and one assist.
Manchester United were interested in signing De Ligt while he was at Ajax under Ten Hag. He instead joined Juventus in 2019 before moving to Bayern Munich three years later.
Ten Hag welcomes Manchester United's pursuit of De Ligt after working with the 45-cap Netherlands international at the Johan Cruyff Arena. They also have Jarrad Branthwaite in their sights but are struggling to match Everton's £70 million valuation.
De Ligt's potential move would be separate from United's Branthwaite pursuit. The Red Devils need to free up finances, and their transfer activity will largely depend on departures. He has three years left on his contract, but Bayern may be open to his sale.
Matthijs de Ligt detailed the role Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag played in his development
De Ligt's development came under Ten Hag at Ajax, where he broke onto the scene as one of Europe's brightest talents. He became the youngest-ever captain in a UEFA Champions League knockout game in a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid (February 2019).
The Dutchman made 70 appearances under Ten Hag at the Johan Cruyff Arena. He won the Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup and was named the Netherlands' Player of the Year in 2019.
De Ligt gave insight into Ten Hag's coaching methods and how they result in players' performances on the pitch. He said in May 2019 (via @TheEuropeanLad on X):
"Erik ten Hag is very aware of everything. He consults a lot with the team, and knows what’s going on at any moment. He is extremely strict and demands the maximum of his players, but he also gives freedom to his players which you can see on the pitch."
De Ligt was a member of an Ajax squad brimming with youthful talent that Ten Hag helped develop. He also unearthed gems like Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Andre Onana (Manchester United), and Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray).
