Jarrad Branthwaite Kemalahan, Manchester United Kejari Matthijs De Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt (left) alternative to Manchester United to replace Jarrad Brantwaite. (IG @mdeligt_)

JAKARTA Manchester United diverted their hunt at the center-back position in the summer transfer window to Matthijs de Ligt after Jarrad Branthwaite's tag was deemed too expensive.

MU is in a desperate position to get a new centre-back after the contracts of Raphael Varane and Johnny Evans expire at the end of June.

Initially, Jarrad Branthwaite was the main target of the Red Devils, and the Briton is claimed to have reached an agreement with the 20-time Premier League champions.

Unfortunately, Everton wants more than 80 million pounds sterling, well above MU's opening offer which is estimated at 35 million pounds sterling plus bonuses.

This is what makes MU management start to turn its views on other players, one of which is Matthijs de Ligt. Reported by Sky Deutschland, the Bayern Munich player only has a tag starting at 42 million pounds.

Therefore, MU is said to have held an internal discussion about the possibility of moving de Ligt this summer. Moreover, Erik ten Hag is also interested in having a reunion with his former player in Ajax Amsterdam.

The Red Devils were previously interested in bringing in de Ligt while still strengthening Ajax in 2019. Unfortunately, the player chose to move to Juventus, spending three seasons with the Italian giant, before moving to Bayern in the summer of 2022.

Now, the Red Devils are preparing to restart their interest, with de Ligt expected to be a cheaper choice than Brantwaite, as Everton stick to the 80 million Premiership.

Matthijs de Ligt, who is currently with the Dutch squad in the 2024 European Cup, has only appeared 30 times for Bayern in the 2023-2024 season. Although he still has a three-year contract remaining at the Allianz Arena, he is rumored to be able to leave this summer at the appropriate price.