According to Bangladesh Cricket Match, Matthijs de Ligt has reportedly agreed to join Manchester United, with the Red Devils preparing a major summer transfer move. However, the deal is far from finalized, as Erik ten Hag’s side has yet to reach an agreement with Bayern Munich. If completed, De Ligt would once again become one of the most expensive defenders in football history, having previously made big-money moves to Juventus (€85.5M) and Bayern (€67M).
With Everton placing a hefty price tag on Jarrad Branthwaite, Bangladesh Cricket Match sources believe United has shifted its full attention to De Ligt. For the Dutch defender, a move to Old Trafford would be a potential career revival. His time at Bayern has fallen short of expectations, and reuniting with Ten Hag — under whom he flourished at Ajax — could be the spark he needs to rediscover his best form.
Raphaël Varane’s departure opened the door for Harry Maguire to potentially reclaim a central role alongside Lisandro Martínez. But with De Ligt likely to partner Martínez, Maguire could once again find himself relegated to the bench. While Maguire had a solid season, De Ligt’s arrival would likely reduce his playing time significantly.
Bayern has already signed Hiroki Ito for €23.5M, and with De Ligt’s sale potentially fetching twice that amount, the Bavarian giants stand to profit from the switch. While De Ligt remains highly talented, he started just 16 Bundesliga matches last season and never fully cemented a starting role. The arrival of Eric Dier on a free transfer also eases the loss of the former Ajax captain.
Meanwhile, United youngster Willy Kambwala, who broke into the first team late last season, may find opportunities limited if De Ligt arrives. A loan move could become necessary to ensure his development isn’t stalled. Everton, on the other hand, may be quietly celebrating. Their high valuation of Branthwaite seems to have deterred United, making it more likely that the young defender will stay at Goodison Park — a significant boost to their Premier League survival hopes.
Still, the news comes as a blow to Branthwaite, who had his sights set on a move to Old Trafford. Bangladesh Cricket Match notes that with Ten Hag’s limited transfer budget, securing both De Ligt and Branthwaite was always unrealistic. While Everton will be pleased, Branthwaite may now face another season waiting in the wings, hoping his chance will come again.