Manchester United must sell unwanted players before they can reignite the pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt despite being close to signing the Dutchman.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Caught Offside, Manchester United might still be interested in a move for Matthijs de Ligt, but they may have to sell players before signing the Dutchman. Erik ten Hag remains keen on his compatriot, but doubts were cast after the arrival of Leny Yoro.
Manchester United need funds for Matthijs de Ligt
There are still unclear news about how many central defenders Manchester United are willing to sign. As the club announced the arrival of Leny Yoro from LOSC Lille, there are still some who believe they will sign another defender, probably in the form of Matthijs de Ligt.
De Ligt has been on Manchester United’s radar with suggestions that he has already agreed on personal terms and that talks with Bayern Munich were at an advanced stage. In the aftermath of the Yoro chase, some stories have suggested that the Red Devils refused to pay what Bayern Munich wanted for the defender, who are probably asking for more than €50 million plus add-ons.
In any case, they are unlikely to put all their eggs in the Yoro basket. The teenager might be a highly promising defender after a good enough season with Lille, but he might take a season or two to get familiar with the Premier League.
Hence, a defender like De Ligt might make sense for the present and future, with Lisandro Martinez likely to take the other position in central defence. Fabrizio Romano did confirm Manchester United are still interested in the 24-year-old Bundesliga and Serie A winner, although insisted the club might have to sell first before they can sign the Bayern Munich defender.
Romano said, “United have been able to sign a fantastic defender; it (Leny Yoro) looks like a really great signing. Some fans have been asking me about what this deal means for the interest in Matthijs de Ligt – for now, the discussions have been positive and advanced, but now for Man United, it’s time to think about the outgoings,”
“Man United still want one more centre-back, but selling players is absolutely crucial for them; this is why the Matthijs de Ligt story remains open but not imminent now.”
Who could Manchester United sell?
Manchester United has already sold Mason Greenwood to Marseille in a €30 million deal and is on the verge of further departures. Promising defender Willy Kambula might fetch a few million, while West Ham-linked Aaron Wan-Bissaka could bring in around £15 million or so.
Scott McTominay could depart, while Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof could also be sold for suitable offers. Should one of the latter duo depart, Manchester United are likely to go back in for De Ligt in a flash and get the 24-year-old to Old Trafford.
