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According to FootballTransfers, Manchester United are the frontrunners in the pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, eclipsing Arsenal’s interest.
Since his 2022 switch to Bayern, de Ligt’s future at the club appears uncertain due to limited playing time under Thomas Tuchel. Despite his high-profile status, de Ligt found himself on the bench during Bayern’s 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, hinting at his growing dissatisfaction in Munich, as Sky Germany reported.
With Thomas Tuchel favoring Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae as his central defensive duo, and even opting for Eric Dier over de Ligt recently, the Dutch international’s role at Bayern is under scrutiny. This situation has led to significant interest from Manchester United, with the club having engaged with de Ligt’s agents multiple times. The connection to United is further strengthened by de Ligt’s past association with manager Erik ten Hag during their Ajax days.
Despite Arsenal’s consideration of de Ligt as a potential signing, the Gunners have yet to make formal contact with the player or Bayern Munich. On the other hand, Manchester United, with ten Hag at the helm, is eager to reinforce their defense, especially following Lisandro Martinez’s recent injury. While other names like Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton and Jean-Clair Todibo from OGC Nice have been mentioned, de Ligt remains a primary target.
Manchester United’s interest in de Ligt isn’t new; the club attempted to secure his signature in 2019 before he chose Juventus in an €85.5 million move. Now, with United poised to make a significant offer this summer, it seems they are prepared to finally bring the Dutch defender to Old Trafford, aiming to bolster their defensive line for the 2024 season.
