Matthijs de Ligt reaches “general understanding” with Man United on five-year deal | OneFootball

Matthijs de Ligt has reached a “general” agreement on personal terms with Manchester United as a deal to bring him to Old Trafford starts to look inevitable.

It has already been reported that De Ligt will be willing to take a pay cut to join United after losing his place in the starting line-up at Bayern Munich.

According to capology.com, De Ligt earns around £260,000 per week at the Allianz Arena, but United’s new part-owners Ineos are trying to push the wage bill down at Old Trafford and have likely offered less.

Reporter Rudy Galetti reports that there is now a “general understanding in place between #ManUTD and #DeLigt for a 5-y contract, until 2029.”

With wages not a problem, the only issue standing in the way now is the transfer fee.

On this, United “are willing to pay ~€40m+bonuses to convince Bayern to let him go,” Galetti says.

The Bavarians are believed to be demanding €50 million, but “in light of [the Jonathan] Tah deal, well underway, could lower [their] request.”

With United seemingly getting a free run at the Dutchman, this leaves the deal tantalisingly close to completion, although nothing formal is likely to happen while the Netherlands remain in Euro 24.

De Ligt would be a class addition to United’s defensive roster although the precocious talent he exhibited as a 19 year old could be said to have plateaued since his €67 million move from Juventus to Bayern.

Hopes that being reunited with Erik ten Hag will help him return to top form could in part be what is fuelling United’s interest, although it must be said that the United boss has failed to work the same magic for another of that golden-age Ajax team, Donny van de Beek.

Still only 24 years of age, if United capture De Ligt for around €40 million they will be paying less than half the €85.5 million Juve paid for him in 2019, which in theory at least represents fantastic business.

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