“He will…” Bayern Munich chief addresses Matthijs de Ligt’s Manchester United move

Bayern Munich’s director of sport, Max Eberl, has addressed questions surrounding Manchester United’s pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt.

Manchester United are focused on significantly strengthening their defence by signing multiple centre-backs this summer after a challenging season under Erik ten Hag.

The team finished eighth in the Premier League and was eliminated from the Champions League by Christmas. Over the 2023/24 season, United conceded more than eighty goals in all competitions, often altering their defensive lineup due to a string of injuries.

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This instability led to over 30 different defensive combinations across 52 matches, highlighting the urgent need for defensive reinforcements to restore stability and competitiveness.

Although the club have been routinely linked to multiple centre-backs this summer following the signing of Leny Yoro, it seems as if they have settled on Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt as the most realistic option.

David Ornstein revealed that Manchester United made an initial double offer to Bayern Munich on Thursday for two players: De Ligt and right-back Moussair Mazraoui.

There was optimism from both the club and the players’ representatives that this would satisfy the demands of the Bundesliga giants. However, Bayern Munich rejected the offer, indicating that a higher fee would be required to reach an agreement.

Bayern’s director of sport, Max Eberl, has now fielded questions surrounding De Ligt’s possible transfer to United, and he was asked why the possibility exists.

“I will comment on the reasons when the time comes,” Eberl said when asked about the reasons behind De Ligt’s potential exit via Sky Sports.

“It is not yet that time. Matthijs played very well here for two years, and that is why many fans like him. Nevertheless, you have to think about how you decide and also how the boy feels.

“He is still a player for FC Bayern. And as long as he is, he will get all the support from us.”

United are expected to continue negotiations for both players as the 2024 summer transfer window enters the final four weeks.

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