Manchester United appear to be closing in on a couple of summer signings to bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad.
Ineos have decided to stick with Erik ten Hag and the Manchester United boss will be looking for reinforcements this summer.
Recruitment plans are starting to accelerate and offers have been going in for some key United targets.
United’s second bid for Everton centre back Jarrad Branthwaite has been rejected, with a third offer now expected.
An offer has though been accepted for Lille wonderkid Leny Yoro, but the teenager is also wanted by Real Madrid.
Centre backs appear to be the focus for United right now and one deal appears to have taken a step forward.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Matthijs de Ligt wants Manchester United move
United have made Bayern Munich centre back Matthijs de Ligt a top target this summer.
Ten Hag coached De Ligt at Ajax and a reunion at Old Trafford has been heavily rumoured of late.
This isn’t even a case of Ten Hag just signing one of his former players like Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Sofyan Amrabat.
Ineos are understood to have put De Ligt forward as a possible signing and Ten Hag has given his approval having worked with the centre back in the past.
United have been described as being ‘confident’ of securing De Ligt in a £42million deal – and that confidence may only be rising.
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims that De Ligt has now informed Bayern that he wants to join United ‘with immediate effect’.
Plettenberg noted late on Wednesday that De Ligt would be having talks with Bayern over his future having been eliminated from Euro 2024 with the Netherlands.
Those talks have taken place today and De Ligt has informed Bayern of his desire to make the move.
Plettenberg notes that talks between United and Bayern are ‘advanced’ and a verbal agreement over De Ligt’s contract is now in place.
Agent Rafaela Pimenta is now working on finalising the deal, which appears to be accelerating at some pace now De Ligt’s Euro 2024 commitments are over.
Fabrizio Romano on De Ligt contract
There are also claims from Fabrizio Romano, who has been discussing De Ligt’s proposed contract at Old Trafford.
Romano claims that De Ligt has agreed to a five-year deal at United and he has made it clear that he only wants the move to Manchester – nowhere else.
Romano adds that talks between United and Bayern are ‘proceeding well’ in the hope of having terms fully agreed soon.
Bayern are keen to get this deal over the line – and not just because De Ligt has fallen down the pecking order in Bavaria.
Reports from Germany suggest that Bayern need to sell De Ligt in order to bring in funds and unlock some of their transfer business.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has been picked out to replace De Ligt and United striking a deal will free up Bayern to pounce.
United appear to have taken a step closer to signing De Ligt and it looks like he will be joined by Dutch teammate Joshua Zirkzee as he nears a move from Bologna.