Matthijs de Ligt dismisses Manchester United transfer theory as £30m star placed on shortlist

Matthijs de Ligt has dismissed one Manchester United transfer theory as a £30 million-rated star has been placed on the club’s shortlist.

Matthijs de Ligt, 25, joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window alongside right-back Noussair Mazraoui.

The duo has bolstered Erik ten Hag’s defence, with Mazraoui already delivering solid performances. While De Ligt has only made one start—a loss to Liverpool—he was one of the few bright spots in that match.

United’s acquisition of De Ligt felt like it came five years later than expected, as the club had been linked with the Dutch defender ever since his impressive 2018/19 campaign under Ten Hag at Ajax.

Nevertheless, excitement surrounds the transfer, though it caused discontent among Bayern fans, with 70,000 supporters signing a petition earlier this summer to keep the defender.

Many have suggested that Ten Hag was the biggest reason that De Ligt ended up joining United this time around, with the pair having already worked together closely in Amsterdam.

However, the defender was quick to dismiss this assumption during the international break this week, explaining how the lure of United is big enough on its own.

“Erik ten Hag was not the only reason I joined Manchester United,” De Ligt told Vandaag Inside. “We are talking about Manchester United here, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“There is a lot of pressure because the fans are used to things from the past. [It is] up to us to become as good as possible.”

Meanwhile, Dan Ashworth and the transfer chiefs at Old Trafford are already focusing on the upcoming transfer windows and potential targets for the first-team squad.

A new report from HITC reveals that Manchester United are monitoring 19-year-old left-back Patrick Dorgu. According to Fabrizio Romano, Lecce has priced the highly-rated teenager at around £30 million.

United have faced significant challenges in the left-back position recently, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both sidelined for much of last season and neither player started the new campaign.

The report also highlights stiff competition for Dorgu’s signature, with Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern Munich all showing interest in the talented defender.

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