There is plenty of discussion around a player who could yet become the first signing of the Ineos era at Manchester United.
A man who made a pair of hugely-expensive transfers with the expectation that he would soon become the finest footballer in his position the planet over. A man who, given that he has fallen short of that somewhat, finds himself being viewed in some quarters as a classic case of wasted potential.
In reality, like most things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
It is not quite so black and white with Matthijs de Ligt; the Bayern Munich defender who, according to De Telegraaf, is edging closer to reuniting with Erik ten Hag after Manchester United offered him a five-year contract at Old Trafford.
De Ligt is not, as many have claimed, a wonderkid gone wrong. Admittedly, nor is he the globe’s finest defender either. But at the age of just 24, De Ligt has plenty of time to get there, and rumours of his departure from Bayern have left many a pundit confused.
Manchester United nearing Matthijs de Ligt deal
As Bundesliga reporter Constantin Eckner tells talkSPORT (2 July, 12pm), De Ligt at his best can be a truly imperious talent.
Eckner goes as far as to suggest that there was no better player in the whole of Germany’s top flight around a year ago.
The challenge facing Man United, however, is to get the man who wore the captain’s armband under Ten Hag at Ajax when he was still a teenager playing with the sort of consistency missing from his admittedly-still developing game.
“There is something to be said about De Ligt’s overall performance for Bayern as being a bit of a rollercoaster,” Eckner begins, explaining that the Dutchman often talks a good game but sometimes falls short when he touches the turf.
“In the 2022/23 season, the second half of the season he was the best player in the Bundesliga! The first half, not so much.
“Sometimes, what might be a little bit off-putting – not to colour him in a bad light – he always wants to be the defensive boss. He wants to be the boss of the defence and when he is not doing well, coaches are like ‘why is he talking that way?’.
“He can still be a great centre-half.”
De Ligt certainly did not begin the summer as Man United’s leading central defensive target. But while the struggles in bringing in Jarrad Branthwaite, Leny Yoro, Tosin Adarabioyo and the UEFA-barred Jean-Clair Todibo have certainly played a part in De Ligt rising up United’s wishlist, there is also a key financial factor to consider.
Bayern Munich want less than £50 million
Eckner believes that Bayern are ‘demanding’ £42 million plus add-ons. That is around £30 million less than Everton want for Branthwaite, for instance.
Given De Ligt’s rare combination of both experience and longevity – and his proven track record at some of the most expectant clubs in Europe – this feels like a potentially outstanding piece of business.
Especially given that Bayern paid Juventus £68 million just two years ago, and De Ligt has arguably improved since then.
“It’s getting so hot that we might burn our fingers now! It’s getting really hot,” adds Eckner, the race to become United’s first Ineos-era signing seemingly now a three-horse gallop between De Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee.
“Bayern are actually ready to sell Matthijs de Ligt. They are open to selling him and they are demanding £42 million plus add-ons. He’s played pretty well for Bayern, but Bayern want to overhaul their squad.
“They are closing in on the signing of Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen and he would be the one who replaces Matthijs de Ligt.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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