Manchester United have made significant strides in their pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt, securing a full agreement with Bayern Munich for the Dutch defender, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. De Ligt, renowned for his leadership at Ajax and subsequent moves to Juventus and Bayern Munich, has struggled to consistently perform at the elite level expected of him. Although he has been solid in Bayern’s defense, the club views him as surplus to requirements, especially under new manager Vincent Kompany.
United's interest in de Ligt is driven by their need to reinforce their backline following a challenging season marked by defensive injuries. Despite the addition of young talent Leny Yoro, Erik ten Hag seeks an experienced player like de Ligt to fill the void left by Raphael Varane's departure. Ten Hag’s previous successful stint with de Ligt at Ajax makes him confident that the Dutch defender can provide the stability and expertise required to strengthen Manchester United’s defense.