Manchester United are now seriously considering making a move to sign one centre-back target this summer, but he’ll be costly.
Of all the positions Manchester United need to strengthen this summer, arguably there is none as important as centre-back and now one option is being seriously considered.
This has already seen interest in several options with Jean-Clair Todibo being the most recent as Ineos looks set for a legal battle to open the door for that move.
Now though, it’s been reported that a £260k-a-week player is being seriously considered by United, and it’s a player Erik ten Hag knows very well.
Manchester United now seriously considering Matthijs de Ligt move this summer
Despite the obvious financial concerns, it seems that Matthijs de Ligt has found himself a serious target for United this summer.
This comes according to renowned journalist David Ornstein who has reported that De Ligt is now a serious contender to be signed this summer as Ineos look to bolster the defence.
Ornstein adds that there are no talks yet or a certainty that the move will happen, however, the Dutchman is becoming an increasingly viable option for the Red Devils this summer.
Interestingly, he then adds that the move would be independent of the ongoing interest in Jarrad Branthwaite. This suggests that two centre-halves may arrive this summer, something United could do with.
If United are to move for De Ligt, he’d likely cost £59.3m which Christian Falk suggested in his column for CaughtOffside. That being said he added that United would only be willing to spend £29.6m which doesn’t exactly make us believe a deal is close.
De Ligt dreamed of being Cristiano Ronaldo and owned a Manchester United kit
Signing De Ligt has long been something rumoured around Old Trafford, ever since he broke through into the Ajax teenager as a teenager.
De Ligt recalled this in an interview which has been quoted by the Bundesliga official website: “I always wanted to be Cristiano Ronaldo when we were playing football in the garden.
“That was especially in his time when he played at Manchester United. My first football shirt also belonged to him from that time.”
This young love with United, coupled with him being a Ten Hag favourite suggests this is a move which would please a lot of people involved.
However, he’d have to win over a healthy chunk of the fanbase who might not be convinced by him.
