Centre-half is emerging as the priority this summer for Manchester United and now one potential option is being discussed.
For Erik ten Hag, the 2023/24 season simply was not good enough and improvements will need to be drastic next season.
He’ll know that himself, but luckily it seems like Ineos are on the ball when it comes to recruitment and have already begun to organise moves for some of the most exciting talents in football.
Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton has been bid for, while Leny Yoro of Lille is greatly admired and both are being targeted for this summer. Both would be incredible partners for Lisandro Martinez who is guaranteed to play a pivotal role.
However other options are being linked, including one which has come from left-field, but now a report has mentioned that Manchester United are looking at a move which Ten Hag would welcome with open arms.
Manchester United considering Matthijs de Ligt move this summer
While Branthwaite is undoubtedly the number one target this summer, it is thought that two centre-backs are desired by the club considering how bad last season was.
Now according to Florian Plettenberg, United have begun having internal discussions about a potential move of Matthijs de Ligt.
The journalist explains that the 24-year-old former Ajax player is primarily being considered due to Ten Hag’s insistence, although as has been so well reported recently, he won’t be making the decisions.
No concrete moves have been made, with United still gathering information about De Ligt. Although they are expecting to have to pay around €50 million or £42.1m.
Erik ten Hag would love Manchester United to sign De Ligt
If this was summer 2023 and Ten Hag had a deciding vote in recruitment we’d fully expect a move for De Ligt to transpire if he’s departing Bayern Munich.
The recently backed manager played a part in bringing De Ligt through into the Ajax first team and knows him very well – just like he did Frenkie de Jong.
Because of this, it’s a deal impossible to rule out, and his qualities are things which could be beneficial to United’s defence – with FBRef having Liverpool’s Virgil Dijk as the number one similar player to De Ligt.
De Ligt is excellent on the ball and dominant in the air which would make him a perfect partner for Martinez. That being said, there’s surely little chance Ineos choose him over the young talents currently on the list.