De Ligt delivers massive transfer blow to Man Utd

Carlo Garganese
Carlo Garganese
  • 12 Mar 2024 13:30 GMT
  • 2 min read
Matthijs de Ligt, Bayern Munich, 2023/24
© IMAGO

The chances of Matthijs de Ligt moving to Manchester United this summer have reduced massively after the Dutchman won his place back in the Bayern Munich team.

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De Ligt had fallen down the pecking order at Bayern this season, leading the centre back pushing for a transfer away from the club in January.

Bayern refused to sell in the winter market but Sky Germany and others reported at the time that De Ligt was available for sale at the end of the season.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer news

FootballTransfers reported that Man Utd were in pole position to sign De Ligt in the summer, although there was interest also from Arsenal.

However, those chances have now plummeted as De Ligt has become an important player for Bayern again.

He has regained his first-team spot, pushing Kim Min-Jae to the bench.

And he has been in fantastic form in recent games as Bayern have finally found some form.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours

They thrashed Lazio 3-0 to qualify for the Champions League quarter final, with De Ligt’s brilliany volley assisting Thomas Miller’s second. Bayern then hammered Mainz 8-1 at the weekend.

Bayern are now happy again with De Ligt

Man Utd are in the market for at least one top centre-back in the summer as a number of their current central defenders are likely to leave in the summer.

The futures of Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are in doubt as their contracts are expiring, while Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire’s futures are not secure either.

Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag is a big fan of De Ligt having worked with him at Ajax.

During that time De Ligt emerged as arguably the most promising young centre back in Europe before signing for Juventus in the summer of 2019.

However, he never lived up to his potential at Juve, who sold him to Bayern Munich in 2022 for €80 million.

De Ligt signed a five-year contract in Bavaria that runs until 2027 but he has also struggled at times at Bayern, his recent form excluded.

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