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Manchester United are edging ever closer to signing their first defender of the summer after in depth scouting of centre-back options across Europe.
Earlier last month, it was announced that United had identified their top three centre-back targets for this transfer window in the form of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and Juventus’ Gleison Bremer, however, despite conversations with Todibo, Branthwiate is the only target to have received an official offer from the Red Devils.
With the initial bid of £35 million rejected by Everton who are still holding out for £80 million, United are currently looking at revising their offer for the 22-year-old, even now considering a player-swap deal including Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
However, since this shortlist was announced, it’s been confirmed that Erik ten Hag will be remaining in his post as manager at Old Trafford, with the Dutchman not afraid to make his thoughts known on who he’d like in his squad for next season.
It’s down to ten Hag’s requests that the Red Devils are perusing Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt who he managed whilst at Ajax.
Reports are now emerging that ten Hag seems to be extremely close to getting his wish grated for a de Ligt move to Old Trafford.
According to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, United have offered a five year contract to the centre-back, with ten Hag having held multiple phone calls with de Ligt to discuss a reunion of the two in Manchester.
Whilst nothing official has been agreed as of yet, the defender’s management team are in constant talks with United and it’s expected that an agreement can be reached very soon.
De Ligt was a part of ten Hag’s Ajax side to win the Dutch domestic double in 2018/19 winning the Eredivisie and the Toto KNVB Beker cup, where he captained the team to both victories after making himself a vital part of ten Hag’s side.
With 70 games played under ten Hag, the defender is extremely well regarded by the Dutch manager and a centre-back pairing of Lisandro Martinez and de Ligt will surely make a strong defensive line for any tam to come up against.
