How Man Utd would line-up with Matthijs de Ligt

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 1 Jul 2024 16:20 BST
4 min read

Erik ten Hag, Man Utd, Matthijs de Ligt — © IMAGO

Manchester United are moving to sign Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt in a bid to bolster their central defence.

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It's widely reported that contact has been made between the club and the player's representatives and a contract running until 2029 is believed to have been offered in principle.

Any move would see De Ligt and Erik ten Hag working together once again following their time together at Ajax, where they won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup in the 2018–19 season.

De Ligt joined Bayern for €67 million in 2022, moving from Juventus. The German outfit are expected to demand a similar fee but a deal is likely to be sealed at a loss to them.

The Dutchman's Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €50.6m and his deal at the Allianz Arena runs until June 2027.

Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg has reported that the player's agent is hard at work to make the move come to fruition and that Ten Hag really wants to bring him to Old Trafford.

He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday: " Bayern have now set a price for Matthijs de Ligt and are demanding at least 50 million euros plus bonus payments! No official offer from ManUtd yet!

"Top agent Rafaela Pimenta in direct touch with ManUtd to find an agreement and a top solution for De Ligt as Ten Hag really wants him!"

Compared

Matthijs de Ligt

D (C)

Bayern

Matthijs de Ligt

D (C)

Bayern

VS

Raphaël Varane

D (C)

Man Utd

Raphaël Varane

D (C)

Man Utd

2023/2024

Season Statistics

2023/2024

30	Appearances	32
4	Key Passes	3
21	Tackles	23
18	Interceptions	23

How Man Utd would line up with Matthijs de Ligt

A deal is looking very possible between Man Utd and Bayern and the defender could be one of the first names through the door at Man Utd ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Despite being 24 years old, De Ligt has vast experience playing in the elite divisions and Europe.

He will no doubt be a starter for Man Utd on the right side of defence, especially with Raphael Varane now out of the club after his contract ran down.

Sitting to his left would be Lisandro Martinez, who missed most of last season through injury. His return would be greatly needed as Man Utd try and reclaim a spot in the Champions League.

Sitting either side of the pair in the full-back positions will be Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw.

Kobbie Mainoo will be one of the first names on the team-sheet, slotted next to Scott McTominay as Christian Eriksen and Casemiro could leave. Bruno Fernandes will sit central with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho either side.

Rasmus Hojlund will be deployed as the lone striker, hoping to relive some the form we saw glimpses of last season.

GK: Andre Onana

RB: Diogo Dalot

CB: Matthijs de Ligt

CB:Lisandro Martinez

LB: Luke Shaw

DM: Kobbie Mainoo

DM: Scott McTominay

CM: Bruno Fernandes

RW: Alejandro Garnacho

ST: Rasmus Hojlund

LW: Marcus Rashford