“Not close…” Manchester United rumour shut down by local media following ‘agreement’ claims

Rumours claiming that a deal for Matthijs de Ligt to sign for Manchester United this summer is close have been shut down by German media.

Manchester United are set 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, conceding over eighty goals across all competitions.

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Injuries led to frequent changes in their defensive lineup, resulting in over 30 different combinations in 52 matches during the 2023/24 season. INEOS are assessing potential signings for the 2024 summer transfer window, with the club linked to several high-profile defenders.

While deals for Jarrad Branthwaite and Leny Yoro have been extensively documented in the media over the last few days, the club has been most heavily linked with Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt.

A range of reports across the last month have detailed that United and Bayern are close to agreeing a fee of around £42 million for De Ligt this summer, with the player making it clear that he would like to leave.

New manager Vincent Kompany is seemingly happy to let the Dutchman, currently away on international duty with the Netherlands during the 2024 European Championships, leave the Bundesliga club this summer.

However, according to Sky Sports Germany correspondent Florian Plettenberg, United and Bayern are not close to a deal for Matthijs de Ligt despite the recent reports.

Plettenberg explains that there has been no official offer from United for the 24-year-old, which is a stark difference from the bids they have submitted for Branthwaite and Yoro, which have been widely reported as official.

By all accounts, United and De Ligt have agreed on personal terms, with the player keen to sign for his former Ajax boss this summer and giving complete priority over other transfers.

De Ligt has struggled at Juventus and Bayern since leaving the Netherlands in 2019, but reuniting with Ten Hag may be the key to rebuilding his career.

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