Bayern Munich hand Manchester United perfectly-timed Matthijs de Ligt transfer boost

Bayern Munich have handed Manchester United a boost in their negotiations for centre-back Matthijs de Ligt this summer.

Manchester United are determined to reinforce their defence by signing multiple centre-backs this summer following a challenging season under Erik ten Hag. The team finished eighth in the Premier League and was eliminated from the Champions League by Christmas.

Throughout the 2023/24 season, United conceded over eighty goals in all competitions, frequently changing their defensive lineup due to injuries, resulting in more than 30 different combinations across 52 matches.

Read More: Manchester United target Matthijs de Ligt sends clear transfer message to clubs

With this in mind, the club have been hunting for defensive reinforcements and landed on bringing in French talent Leny Yoro to the club for an initial fee of £52 million, but during his second appearance during pre-season, he suffered an injury.

Manchester United confirmed on Thursday morning that Yoro will be out for three months after he suffered a fracture in his foot. It remains to be seen whether he will need surgery or not.

They also confirmed that they expect Rasmus Højlund to be out for around six weeks with a hamstring issue. It is likely he will not return until after the September international break.

At the beginning of the transfer window, news broke that United were looking to sign two centre-backs this summer, and after Yoro’s injury, signing a second defender has become even more imperative.

With the most obvious target being Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, the German club have handed United a boost in negotiations after they left him out of their pre-season tour squad of South Korea.

Bayern are competing in the Audi Cup pre-season competition, but the 24-year-old was not part of their official squad announcement, and there have been claims that De Ligt is “waiting for a solution” to surface surrounding United and Bayern.

De Ligt has already agreed personal terms with the Old Trafford club, meaning that no other hurdles are needed to be overcome if a fee is agreed. United are said to have submitted a £30 million bid last week, but Bayern are asking for £42 million.

This boost comes at a perfect time considering United’s extra need for a centre-back, and should the two clubs agree on a fee in the coming weeks, De Ligt could once again be playing under Ten Hag.

“It remains to be seen whether Matthijs de Ligt will come. I know him well,” the Dutch manager said in an interview a few weeks ago when asked about the status of the defender’s move.

“I wanted to sign him two years ago but at that time, he was already very far along to join Bayern. Believe it or not, his name did not come from me in the process. 

“During my vacation, I was three or four weeks out of the process. During that period, it was really the club, the newly equipped scouting and recruitment department, that brought in these players.

“The fact that there are also Dutch people among them is, in fact, a coincidence. Primarily, these were players who were proposed from our organisation. But of course I support it, let that be clear. And we still make the choice together.”

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