In order to make their first signing, Manchester United has reached an agreement with a world-class talent about personal terms
Man United and Erik ten Hag in particular need the 2024–25 season to be a watershed in their history.
The Red Devils played incredibly poorly in the previous season, despite shocking everyone by winning the FA Cup.
The Champions League group stages saw them concede more goals than any other English team, which led to their elimination from Europe. They had the lowest finishing position in the Premier League’s history at the end of the season, with a negative goal differential (ESPN).
Man United and de Ligt come to a consensus
Ten Hag may have had an unexpected reprieve from death with the cup final triumph against Man City, even if the smart money was on Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his board heading elsewhere.
Ten Hag’s contract extension gives the squad some stability at a critical juncture, but the board may have mitigated their risks by doing so because the Dutchman would have been entitled to compensation.
The Manchester Evening News claims that it has definitely helped United come to a personal understanding with Matthijs de Ligt, one of their key summer targets.
Ten Hag made de Ligt the captain of Ajax when he was just 19 years old. If de Ligt were to take Bruno Fernandes’ armband at Old Trafford and become the team’s captain shortly after, it wouldn’t be too strange.
If United and Bayern Munich can now agree on a transfer fee, De Ligt will surely be wearing the uniform of his new side soon and certainly entrenched as one of the squad’s first-choice center backs for the forthcoming campaign.
