As Manchester United gears up for the new Premier League season, the club remains proactive in the transfer market, aiming to secure additional signings before the month concludes. Erik ten Hag’s team is set to begin their campaign with a home game against Fulham, but their primary focus is on bolstering the squad.
**Transfer Negotiations with Bayern Munich**
Manchester United is currently in discussions with Bayern Munich to acquire defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. According to The Telegraph, personal terms for both players have been agreed upon, involving five-year contracts each. However, a joint bid for the players was rejected, and both clubs are working towards a mutually acceptable price.
**Matthijs de Ligt’s Career Highlights:**
– **Ajax Academy Graduate**: De Ligt, 24, developed through Ajax’s renowned youth system before making a significant impact in their first team.
– **Juventus Stint**: He spent three years at Juventus, gaining extensive experience in Serie A.
– **Bayern Munich**: Joined Bayern in 2022, making 73 appearances across all competitions.
**Noussair Mazraoui’s Profile:**
– **International Experience**: Mazraoui, a right-back, has earned 28 caps for Morocco.
– **Ajax Roots**: Like De Ligt, he also progressed through Ajax’s youth system before moving to Bayern in 2022.
– **Bayern Tenure**: Featured 55 times for Bayern, with 29 appearances last season.
Acquiring Mazraoui could pave the way for Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s departure, potentially to West Ham, who are reportedly interested in the full-back.
**Wan-Bissaka’s Transfer Update**
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United is seeking around £18 million for Wan-Bissaka. The right-back, who joined from Crystal Palace in 2019, has attracted interest from West Ham and Inter Milan. With his contract expiring in 2025, United risks losing him for free next year if they don’t sell him now or in January.
Wan-Bissaka has made 190 appearances for United, but his future at the club remains uncertain. His recent participation in a 3-0 friendly loss to Liverpool in the USA hasn’t clarified his position ahead of the new season.
Following the Liverpool defeat, Ten Hag expressed mixed feelings: “There were mixed feelings, I would say. I think I have seen positive bits, but the way we concede goals, we are, of course, not happy with it. Of course, Liverpool are a very good side. They are very aggressive, and they have lots of goalscoring abilities, so they did very well. But the way we conceded, we are not happy with it. As I said, I think there were good bits, and the first goal is always very important. I thought Liverpool played very well, but they were also very efficient.”
**Strategic Implications**
Manchester United’s strategy in the transfer market reflects a balance between strengthening the squad and managing financial considerations.
The potential acquisition of De Ligt and Mazraoui underscores the club’s commitment to bolstering its defensive line, while Wan-Bissaka’s possible exit could streamline the squad and free up funds for further reinforcements.
With the Premier League season fast approaching, Manchester United fans will be eager to see how these potential transfers unfold and impact the team’s performance in the coming months.
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