It’s no secret that Manchester United are going to need a new centre-back this summer, and the name Matthijs De Ligt has started to reappear.
Some of this will have to do with the fact the Juventus star is in the middle of some renewal talks with the Serie A club, but a lot will be due to the arrival of Erik ten Hag on the Old Trafford bench.
We’ve already covered a handful of stories on the matter, and Corriere dello Sport on Wednesday continue to push the idea that Manchester United could make a move for the Dutchman this summer.
He would be expensive, and would need some convincing, but there could be a desire from the player to reunite with his former manager.
It’s said that De Ligt’s name ‘would be in fashion’ at Manchester United these days ‘for a very specific reason’.
That is Ten Hag being the man in charge now, and that’s why the manager who helped him blossom at Ajax Amsterdam before his big move to Juventus ‘could try the coup’.
The Italians still have some power, seeing as the defender is tied to them until 2024 and is protected by a €125m release clause (destined to rise to €140m next year), but ‘it’s equally there that there could be a serious threat from the Premier League’.
Chelsea are also on the case, and while the €125m is a fee Juventus doesn’t expect anyone to match, he would still remain an expensive acquisition for the Blues or Manchester United.
