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Bayern Munich’s Director of Sport Max Eberl has commented publicly on Manchester United’s pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt as negotiations continue between the two clubs.
On Friday, as explained in greater detail by The Peoples Person here, United submitted a “joint bid” for De Ligt and team-mate Noussair Mazraoui with “optimism” amongst Old Trafford officials it would be accepted by their German counterparts.
Bayern promptly rejected the double offer, however, informing United it would require a “higher fee” to sign the former Ajax duo.
De Ligt and Mazraoui are represented by the same agent, Rafaela Pimenta, who is described as “bemused” by the rejection, given it was believed to have met the threshold Bayern had set for both players’ transfers.
Pimenta contacted Bayern officials to ask whether their stance at the beginning of the summer, which saw them communicate their willingness to “compromise” to help facilitate De Ligt and Mazraoui’s departures, had changed. Bayern informed the agent it had not.
United have not lost hope of agreeing a double deal for the pair with Florian Plettenberg (Sky Sports) revealing there are “negotiations ongoing” between both clubs.
Eberl, who officially became Bayern’s director in March, has been tasked with overhauling the senior squad following one of the most disappointing campaigns for the German giant in recent memory.
Big-money moves for Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) and João Palhinha (Fulham) have already been secured, while cheaper deals for defenders Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) and Hiroki Ito (VfB Stuttgart) were also struck. A further deal for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah is also on the table but Bayern need income from a sale to secure the deal for the German international.
This need to sell in an area Bayern are stacked in – central defence – is what has led United to pursue De Ligt with the belief a cheaper-than-expected deal could be struck, in comparison to a target like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. So far, however, the Bundesliga side have held firm in their valuations.
Today, Eberl was asked about De Ligt’s “imminent transfer” to United on Bayern’s pre-season tour in South Korea.
🚨🔴 Bayern boss Max Eberl about Matthijs de Ligt and his imminent transfer to Manchester United ⤵️
„I will comment on it (the reasons for the upcoming move to ManUnited) when the time comes. It is not the time yet. Matthijs has played very well here for two years, and that’s… pic.twitter.com/TTAHE7vden
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 4, 2024
Tweet: “Bayern boss Max Eberl about Matthijs de Ligt and his imminent transfer to Manchester United ⤵️
‘I will comment on it (the reasons for the upcoming move to Man United) when the time comes. It is not the time yet. Matthijs has played very well here for two years, and that’s why many fans like him. Nevertheless, you have to think about how you make decisions and also how the boy feels. He is still a player of FC Bayern. And as long as he is, he will get all our support.’
Negotiations ongoing between the clubs. Bayern still demand €50m plus bonuses.”
While Eberl is careful with his words, the fact the 50-year-old director states he will “comment on [the transfer] when the times” suggests it is far closer to a certainty than a distant possibility.
Plettenberg reveals Bayern steadfastly continue to “demand” a fee in excess of €50 million for De Ligt, while United officials are trying to leverage the fact the Dutch international has signalled his desire to move to Old Trafford to bring down the price.
As we move into the final four weeks of the transfer window, with United desperate to sign a centre-back and Bayern equally desperate to sell one, this will become a game of cat and mouse between the two European powerhouses to see who will break first.
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