Man Utd transfer news: Red Devils put Ten Hag’s Dutchman acquisition on hold

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has time on his hands.

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Erik ten Hag's potential reunion with Matthijs de Ligt at Manchester United has reportedly stalled (Credit: Imago)

Man Utd transfer news: Red Devils put Ten Hag’s Dutchman acquisition on hold

Seye Omidiora 09:22 - 19.07.2024

The Manchester giants are now looking to make sales after the arrivals of Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro.

Manchester United’s move for Matthijs de Ligt has stalled despite Erik ten Hag’s desire to strengthen his defence regardless of Leny Yoro’s arrival.

The Dutchmen were linked with a reunion at Old Trafford after previously working together at Ajax. De Ligt was part of the team managed by Ten Hag that reached the 2018-19 Champions League semi-final before exiting to Tottenham Hotspur

The centre-back has since played for Juventus before leaving Turin for Bayern Munich in 2022 but the 24-year-old has struggled to hit the heights that made him wanted by a glut of top clubs across Europe during Ajax’s domestic dominance and admirable European run. 

Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt has reportedly given the greenlight for his agent to reach an agreement with Manchester United this summer | IMAGO

De Ligt is said to be available for transfer this summer, as the German giants are reportedly willing to accept a fee in the region of £35 million to £40 million for the defender.

Why has Man Utd’s De Ligt interest cooled?

According to Fabrizio Romano, discussions with De Ligt have been positive, but United are prioritising the sale of players before bringing in another centre-back. 

The recent departure of Willy Kambwala and the expiry of Raphael Varane's contract have freed up space, but United are actively looking to sell Victor Lindelof and are reportedly in talks with West Ham United regarding a potential £15 million move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Despite the focus on outgoings, Romano clarifies that United's interest in De Ligt has not waned, with personal terms believed to have already been agreed upon between the player and the club, and reports suggest De Ligt has had direct contact with Ten Hag.

Matthijs de Ligt
De Ligt and Ten Hag could reunite at Manchester United (Credit: Imago)

What comes next? 

De Ligt will return to Bayern for the 2024-25 campaign if Manchester United’s plan to offload players before making an official bid fails to materialise.