Manchester United could be on the verge of another major signing as Matthijs de Ligt, the £50 million ($63.5m) defender compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, has expressed his desire to join the Red Devils immediately.
According Insider information about footballDe Ligt has told friends he wants to move to Manchester United as soon as possible.
The Dutch defender is keen on reuniting with Erik ten Hag, who managed him at Ajax, and talks are underway between United and Bayern Munich over a transfer worth up to £50m ($63.5m).
This news comes at a time when United are in their first transfer window under new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The club have already spent big money on Joshua Zirkzee and centre-back Leny Yoro, but injuries and the need for further reinforcements have forced them to look for additional signings.
Bayern’s moves could pave the way for De Ligt
Bayern Munich’s recent agreement to sign Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen could facilitate De Ligt’s move to Manchester.
De Ligt is eager to take the next step in his career at Old Trafford, where he could join an already strong defensive line-up that includes Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Yoro, who is currently recovering from a serious foot injury.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth is reportedly working to secure deals for Bayern’s Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt, and Mazraoui’s potential arrival would allow Aaron Wan-Bissaka to leave the club.
A mentality like Ronaldo’s
De Ligt’s determination and mentality have prompted comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo, especially from former Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar. “He wants to be the best defender in the world,” Van der Sar said.
“His mentality and hunger are similar to Cristiano Ronaldo’s. When I played for Manchester United with Ronaldo, he had the same desire and the same attitude to work hard and improve every day.”
If the deal goes through, de Ligt would bring experience and a winning mentality to United, having played more games under Ten Hag than any other manager in his career so far.
