Manchester United Ready To Buy Bayern Munich Defender Duo
JAKARTA - Manchester United have not stopped the hunt for players. This time, MU is ready to buy a duo for Bayern Munich defenders. Improvements were made by MU in the defense sector after poor results in the English Premier League last season.
MU already has front players Joshua Zirkzee and centre-back Leny Yoro. However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of MU's minority stake, is still not satisfied to overhaul the squad to be able to compete in the 2024/2025 season competition.
However, MU is actually hunting for defenders. Even though they have recruited Yoro, Lille's centre-back and the U-21 French national team, MU still wants to add players in the defense sector.
Ratcliffe hopes to strengthen his position at the heart of defense. In addition, manager Erik ten Hag wants to get a replacement for defensive midfielder Casemiro.
In the previous season, the Red Devils' defense was indeed very bad Lisandro Martinez's prolonged injury and Raphael Varane's fragility to make the sector so fragile.
How could I not, Andre Onana's goal conceded 58 times. Meanwhile, they could only score 57 goals. This means last season's average MU d goal was minus one.
The solution, MU wants to add defenders even though they have got Yoro. The next target is none other than Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt.
MU's chances of attracting players who have been targeted for a long time are actually quite open. De Ligt still failed to shine since moving to Bayern. After drowning in Juventus, the former Ajax Amsterdam captain is also less prominent in FC Hollywood.
De Ligt's trendless performance made the German Bundesliga giant intend to make it happen. Moreover, Bayern already has the irreplaceable Dayot Upamecano. This made Bayern respond to MU's offer.
"Our defender's opportunity to go is very open. De Ligt is a Dutchman. Manchester United's manager is also a Dutchman. I actually don't mind if he survives. But I won't sell Upamecano," said Uli Hoeness, executive who is also Bayern's Honorary President.
If you join MU, De Ligt will reunite with Ten Hag who handled it in Ajax. Ten Hag also gave confidence to the centre-back of the Dutch national team to become Ajax captain even though he was not even 20 years old.
MU was actually already eyeing De Ligt when he was still in Ajax. At that time, MU was competing with Barcelona.
But De Ligt instead chose Juve. Barca itself got Frenkie de Jong, De Ligt's colleague in Ajax. Meanwhile, United brought Donny van de Beek. Unfortunately Van de Beek did not shine so he was loaned to other clubs until finally he bought Girona
MU shows its seriousness in recruiting De Ligt. In fact, both parties have reached a personal agreement. However, MU is still hit by the transfer price of this 24-year-old defender.
Bayern set a price of 42 million. Meanwhile, MU submitted an offer of 30 million. If it raises the price, MU's offer will not reach 34 million.
However, MU made an attractive offer to Bayern. The 21st Premier League champion this time offered the purchase of right-back Noussair Mazraoui. Mazraoui's purchase was not without reason. MU will release right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka who is being targeted by West Ham United.
With the sale of Wan-Bissaka, MU hopes to get Mazraoui to occupy the right-back position. Bayern did set a price of 25 million for this Morocco national team defender. But they may not mind releasing at a price of 13-17 million.
The bekak duo purchase offer seems to have attracted Bayern's interest. However, these two elite European hubs still have to reach a price agreement for the transfer.
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Apart from buying players, MU will sell a number of players. Not only Wan-Bissaka, but winger Facundo Pelistri will also be sold by MU.
Brazilian club Flamengo is interested in bringing this Uruguayan player. But Panathinaikos also wants to bring Pellistri.
Even this Greek club has approached MU to buy this 22-year-old player. Pelistri wants to leave Old Trafford to get match flying hours.