Man Utd are pushing to sign the £34m star alongside Zirkzee

Manchester United have felt like a team in misery for more than a decade, and while the endless wait for the 21st top-flight title continues, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have sown the seeds of hope at Old Trafford.

It hasn't been easy for Erik ten Hag since he was appointed as the first team manager two years ago, but through all the reprimands, difficulties, Man United won the cup in both the Dutch – Carabao division. Cup in 2022/23 and the FA Cup last season.

Debilitating injury problems prevented any chance of competing against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the battle for the Premier League title, and while the Red Devils were disjointed and unacceptable in their performance for most of the season, Ten Hag had a point. when he kept pointing to his team's medical room.

Defense has always been a concern, and now that Raphael Varane's £350k-a-week contract has expired, INEOS are looking to strengthen their base with exciting additions.

Man Utd transfer news

According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayern Munich's Matthijs De Ligt has given Man United the green light ahead of a possible summer transfer, with efforts made last week to bring him to the club.

De Ligt is currently playing for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 which will naturally slow down the negotiations, although there is a willingness on all sides to get a deal done.

Bayern hopes to collect a €40m (£34m) with the sale of this 24-year-old player, who is about to try in the Premier League after starting a good life in the big league with Ajax – coached by Ten Hag.

Why Man Utd are interested in Matthijs De Ligt

There is a theme at Man United about Ten Hag's penchant for targeting former stars, which has been tried and tested under his wing before, although this has been achieved with varying degrees of success.

Lisandro Martinez may have endured an unlucky 2023/24 campaign for the Red Devils, plagued by injuries, but the Argentine defender is a top player. Antony, who was bought from Ajax for £86m shortly after Ten Hag's arrival, did not have the desired result, scoring just once in the league last season.

But De Ligt is a brilliant player and will be nothing short of a coup for the Premier League side, described as “monster” by Bundesliga analyst Kevin Hatchard.

Signed by Bayern from Juventus two years ago for £68m, the 6 foot 2 titan has played 73 times, scored five goals and won the Bundesliga 2022/23 Bundesliga title, but his efforts last year were marred by injury, limiting him. until only 16 begin to appear in the upper plane.

However, he was able to express his abilities more than that. According to FBref, De Ligt ranked among the top 12% of players in the Bundesliga last season in goals scored, top 2% in pass completions, top 7% in pass completions, top 18% in attempted passes and above. 20% of air duels won out of 90.

Had he received better fortunes on the fitness front, the former player would have been able to give Thomas Tuchel's outfit a great chance to retain the league title and escape Bayer Leverkusen, but it was not to be.

Why De Ligt would be an important signing

De Ligt is a world-class defender, who has previously been hailed as a “real phenomenon” by retired Italian footballer Sergio Brio.

His sensational leadership, strong defensive skills and modern consistent passing range make him the perfect player to join Man United and lift the club closer to the top of the Premier League.

Earning £260k-a-week at Munich, the 45-cap Netherlands star wouldn't come cheap but Varane's recent departure mentioned above reduces the issue of funding the acquisition.

With him partnering alongside Martinez, we don't know how low-key and smart the Old Trafford guard can look, and it could be a deal to convince Bruno Fernandes to stay at the club.

Fernandes. Magnifico of Manchester United. The Portuguese has been exemplary since signing from Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of £47m in January 2020, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, scoring 79 goals and providing 66 assists in 233 games and playing a major role in their cup-winning success. a few years ago.

He ranked in the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in all of Europe's top five leagues last year in shooting actions, top 4% of passes attempted and top 2% of 90 passes each. In a few words: cut from the finest cloth.

However, the 29-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract and has been the subject of rumors about profit from the Saudi Pro League recently, and United must now demonstrate their commitment to returning to the top of the European game in order to retain the services of an irreplaceable leader or playmaker.

Let's not forget, United may have won the silverware but this capped a poor campaign that saw them finish eighth in the Premier League (with just 60 points) and bottom of their Champions League group stage.

De Ligt may not have enjoyed the best of campaigns in Bavaria but he is a fantastic player and will serve as a boost for Varane, who is still years away from his impressive Premier League career.

Fernandes is central to everything that flows freely towards Man United's bottom third, and losing him would be disastrous. INEOS must prove that it means business; there needs to be a theatrical release this summer, but the Portuguese can't get lost in the flotsam.