Inter Milan is reportedly plotting a loan with an option to buy deal involving one of Manchester United’s defensive stars.
Although most of the recent transfer speculation around Manchester United has involved incoming players, there have been rumblings about several players potentially exiting the club.
Rúben Amorim clearly has numerous players that he will be looking to offload in the summer. Players like Antony, Marcus Rashford and Tyrell Malacia were deemed surplus to requirements this season and were sent out on loan, likely to be shipped off permanently in the summer.
Additionally, players like Victor Lindelöf, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans will leave the club when their contracts expire.
However, these are all players that United are looking to get rid of. New reports from Italy suggest that Inter Milan might try to tempt United into parting ways with a player they may not want to let go of, having signed him for £38.5 million.
Inter interested in De Ligt
Tutto Sport in Italy have reported that Inter Milan are interested in signing Matthijs de Ligt this summer on loan with an option to buy.
Since joining in the summer, De Ligt has been one of the few United players to impress this season, ranking high in the squad for almost all defensive stats.
Where he shines above and beyond his teammates is with his defensive blocks, having completed 21 in the league, with the highest blocks per 90 in the squad, with 0.9. His 21 blocks are even more impressive when compared to Harry Maguire and Casemiro, who, despite having the second- and third-most blocks in the squad, have only managed 22 combined.
De Ligt has previous experience in Italy, having spent three years at Juventus, where he won the Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Super Cup.
This is not the first time that Inter’s interest in De Ligt has surfaced. In February, a report from Inter Live also suggested that the Italian side wanted De Ligt, again on a loan with an option to buy. Since numerous Italian outlets have reported the same interest months apart, there is likely some legitimate interest from Milan.
A deal to avoid for United and De Ligt
This deal would be a fantastic one for Inter Milan. They can take one of United’s most in-form players on loan, and if it turns out not to be a good fit, they can send him straight back. However, this deal seems unlikely to happen as there’s nothing in it for United.
United will have to recruit heavily this summer. It seems likely Amorim will bring in a goalkeeper and a striker. With Evans and Lindelof leaving in the summer and Lisandro Martinez potentially out injured until 2026, the defensive positions will probably need addressing as well. If De Ligt leaves, it will only further the need for reinforcements at centre-back.
Due to injuries and squad rotation, Amorim has relied on young defenders in recent months, with academy graduates Tyler Fredricson and Harry Amass having both made their debuts under him.
Additionally, 18-year-old Ayden Heaven joined from Arsenal’s academy in January and has now started featuring in Premier League games. Allowing De Ligt to leave on loan would add immense pressure to these young players, as well as depriving them of the opportunity to train with him, from whom they would surely learn a great deal.
The final nail in the coffin for Inter’s De Ligt hopes is that the reports in February suggested that it would cost the Dutch defender some economic sacrifice related to the salary to join the Italian side permanently.
That means that Inter have two insurmountable mountains to climb in getting this deal over the line, as even if they convince United to part ways with De Ligt, there is no reason for him to join them on lower wages.
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