Why De Ligt to Bayern brings Timber closer to Man Utd
Karan Tejwani
- 19 Jul 2022 18:10 BST
- 3 min read
Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt, ending the Dutch defender’s three-year stint in Turin in a move that could possibly encourage Manchester United.
De Ligt had been keen to leave Juventus after three relatively underwhelming seasons at the Allianz Stadium, and was of interest to Chelsea as well as the German champions.
The Dutchman signed for Juve in 2019 and was touted as one of the game’s brightest young players, and at 22, he will have the chance to prove that in the Bundesliga.
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His signing perhaps opens the door for another player to make a move, as Manchester United may be encouraged to go for Jurrien Timber from Ajax.
Timber interest could be reignited soon
It’s been widely reported that Manchester United have been interested in Timber, but were unable to complete a deal this year due to the player’s desire to stay and ensure his place in the Dutch national team.
However, they are expected to ignite their interest in the coming months – possibly after the World Cup – and De Ligt’s move could open that door even further.
The Red Devils also previously had interest in De Ligt, seeing as he had a good connection with Erik ten Hag when the pair were at Ajax, and considered him as an option for their side.
Bayern Munich have officially completed the signing of Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus 📝 pic.twitter.com/YwBVzthTmt
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) July 19, 2022
With De Ligt now having joined Bayern Munich for a mammoth fee, it’s unlikely that he’ll leave the German club anytime soon, and he won’t be reuniting with Ten Hag in the near future.
Manchester United have taken steps to help their backline regardless, having agreed secured the signature of Ajax and Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez.
They’re also looking at other options should the move for Timber fail to work out, and are focusing on improving other areas for the time being.
For De Ligt, meanwhile, this will be a chance to get his career back on track, having stalled at Juventus for a few years where he often struggled to make a mark.
He’s still only 22 and played for some of Europe’s top clubs, but will be hoping he can have a period of consistency and success in the Bundesliga.
