Shocking turn of events. Manchester United are drooling over Bayern Munich center back Matthijs de Ligt.
German Sky Sports reported on July 7 that Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany is looking to sell six players, with center back Mathis De Ligt not among them.
For Kim Min-jae, who has to compete for the starting center back spot, this was a big shock.
De Ligt was rated the best of the four center backs. The Dutch international was the leader of Bayern Munich’s back four last season.
Injuries sidelined him early in the season and he was ‘unhappy’ with Thomas Tuchel’s mercenary tactics during the campaign and demanded an open trade. However, he fully established himself as the first-choice center back at the end of the season and started every important game. After Kompany’s arrival, it was clear that De Ligt would be the leader of the defense. Meanwhile, Dayo Upamecano, Kim Min-Jae, and Eric Dier were widely expected to compete for a starting spot with possible departures.
However, the core of the defense, De Ligt, has been linked with a move.
Bavarian Football Works, a publication specializing in Bayern Munich, reported that “Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Nusair Mazroui, and Mathieu De Ligt are the six players on the transfer list. De Ligt’s departure is a shock”.
Despite being on Bayern Munich’s murderer’s row, De Ligt’s skills are not going anywhere. He”s still one of the best center backs in the world. World soccer is suffering from a center back famine.
Unsurprisingly, he”s still highly valued.
Manchester United is one of the clubs that want him. The Red Devils are in the midst of a major center back overhaul.
‘The Dutchman joined Bayern Munich from 메이저사이트 Juventus two years ago for a fee of £68 million,’ The Sun reported on September 9 (ET). Now he is available for transfer, and Manchester United could be interested,” and ”United have long expressed an interest in De Ligt. Raphael Varane could leave the club at the end of the season, which means they need a center back, and De Ligt could be the key to that.
‘De Ligt has been on Manchester United’s radar for quite some time,’ the outlet added.
De Ligt is now on the transfer list. It’s in Bayern Munich’s best interest to sell him for the most money. United are a team that can do that.
However, it doesn’t mean that Kim Min-Jae’s competition for the center-back spot has become easier. Mourinho is making a bold move by adding De Ligt to his transfer list. Already, he wants John Stones, who has lost out in the competition for a starting spot at Manchester City. Kompany was a teammate when he played for City. He told local media: “John Stones is a very good center back. He can play all the defenses and he“s very strong”. In other words, De Ligt’s departure is likely to be the beginning of the end of the competition for Kim Min-jae’s starting spot.
