Man Utd transfer boost as Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt favours Premier League move
Posted Sunday, April 05, 2020 by Express.co.uk
Manchester United want to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt when the transfer window reopens this summer.
Manchester United target Matthijs de Ligt would prefer to leave Juventus for the Premier League rather than La Liga this summer, reports say. The Netherlands international has struggled to settle in Serie A ever since his move from Ajax in the summer. And Old Trafford could be his next destination amid the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Manchester United eyed De Ligt during last summer’s transfer window, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earmarking the 20-year-old as a possible target.
However, the Netherlands international ended up moving to Juventus instead, leaving both the Red Devils and Barcelona disappointed.
De Ligt has since struggled to adjust to life in Italy, enduring a frustrating campaign under Maurizio Sarri.
It was reported in the week that United were hoping to land the youngster at the end of the season in a straight swap deal involving Paul Pogba.
And, though Real Madrid are also admirers of the centre-back, The Sun claim he’d prefer a move to England, rather than Spain.
Man Utd target Matthijs de Ligt is open to Premier League transfer (Image: GETTY)
"Obviously the Premier League is a great competition,” he said last summer when asked about the division.
And United are now hoping to bring him in and play him alongside Harry Maguire at the heart of Solskjaer’s defence.
The club’s defenders have improved of late - but that won’t stop the Red Devils from chasing the Juventus star.
De Ligt, at 20, fits the profile of player Solskjaer wants at Old Trafford.
But whether United can get the centre-back through the door is something only time will tell, with Juventus’ stance key.
Man Utd are hoping to swap Paul Pogba for Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt (Image: GETTY)
On one hand, the Old Lady could love to welcome Pogba back to Turin and field him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yet, in De Ligt, they have a player with the potential to become one of the best defenders in world football.
Meanwhile ESPN FC pundit Alejandro Moreno has had his say on a possible swap deal involving De Ligt and Pogba.
He said: "Well that's assuming that you actually have a player in mind and player in place that is going to take that position in the middle of midfield for Manchester United because, well, De Ligt yeah would solve a problem in the backline alongside [Harry] Maguire but then you still have a Pogba-sized hole in that middle of midfield.
"You have Bruno Fernandes who has done a wonderful job but you also have to then address that situation.
"If there's no Pogba, if there's no box-to-box midfielder, who is that guy going to be?
"So if you have that player in mind and you have a plan in place in order to acquire that player, then so be it.
"But until then, you have to resolve what the Pogba issue means to you long term.
"So if you just want to get rid of the guy, yeah sure get value in return in Matthijs de Ligt.
"But you also have to address what you're doing in the middle of midfield."
Photos
More»
Eugenie Bouchard sends fans wild in barely-there bikini
Friday April 19 2024
Paige Spiranac shows off underboob in new racy snap
Friday April 19 2024
Ex-Barcelona WAG strips completely naked
Thursday April 18 2024
Your Say