Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up a move for Matthijs de Ligt, and they could hand him the perfect welcome present if they lure the defender to Old Trafford this summer.
De Ligt is said to be high on United’s transfer wishlist, and the club could quickly make him feel at home if they go through with an unexpected transfer decision in the next 48 hours. The 24-year-old is being touted as a potential replacement for Raphael Varane, whose contract is set to expire this weekend.
Brandon Williams and Anthony Martial will also leave United under the same circumstances, while Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans could potentially join them. Sofyan Amrabat’s season-long loan from Fiorentina is due to end on Sunday night, and despite a late-season resurgence, he is expected to return to Italy after a £8.5million temporary stint.
United have the option to sign the 27-year-old on a permanent basis for around £21m, but it seems they’re looking elsewhere to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s midfield this summer. Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte has emerged as a top midfield target as he prepares to leave just one year after signing from Sporting Clube de Portugal in a £51m deal.
While Ugarte could represent a replacement for Casemiro rather than Amrabat, the latter’s future is in serious doubt, considering the club haven’t yet triggered their buy option. As early as Monday night, the Red Devils could announce Amrabat’s departure, at which point his contract with the club will have expired.
Should the Moroccan player depart, he would leave behind the No. 4 shirt, a number he took over from Phil Jones following the latter’s retirement last summer. This number has been worn by De Ligt during his time at Ajax, Juventus and Bayern, making it a likely choice should he make the move to Old Trafford as an alternative to Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
United would undoubtedly be pleased to assign this number to the Dutchman, who is currently representing the Netherlands at Euro 2024, especially given Ten Hag’s view of him as a starting player alongside Lisandro Martinez. The No.4 shirt has a prestigious history at United, having been worn by legendary defenders such as Nemanja Vidic, Steve Bruce and Denis Irwin.
Whether De Ligt would be interested in the move remains to be seen, particularly as Bayern Munich can offer Champions League football and a strong chance of winning major trophies. However, reports suggest that he is not a key part of Vincent Kompany’s plans at the Allianz Arena, which could prompt a transfer.