Arsenal draw with Bayern a big blow to Man Utd transfer plans

Matthijs De Ligt, Bayern, Kai Havertz, Arsenal, 2023-24

Matthijs de Ligt’s impressive performance for Bayern Munich against Arsenal in the Champions League has all but ended Man Utd’s hopes of signing him this season.

De Ligt was one of the best players on the pitch, superbly marshaling the Bayern defence and marking Kai Havertz as the Germans earned an excellent 2-2 draw in the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates.

The Dutchman’s display has now all but confirmed that he will no longer be on the market this summer.

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That will come as a blow to Man Utd, who until recently believed they had a good chance of signing De Ligt.

De Ligt had fallen down the pecking order at Bayern this season, leading the centre back pushing for a transfer away from the club in January.

Bayern refused to sell in the winter market but Sky Germany and others reported at the time that De Ligt was available for sale at the end of the season.

FootballTransfers reported that Man Utd were in pole position to sign De Ligt in the summer, although there was interest also from Arsenal.

However, those chances have now all but ended as De Ligt has become an important player for Bayern again.

He has regained his first-team spot, pushing Kim Min-Jae to the bench.

And he has been in excellent form in recent weeks, particularly in the Champions League.

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Bayern thrashed Lazio 3-0 to qualify for the Champions League quarter final, with De Ligt’s brilliant volley assisting Thomas Miller’s second.

De Ligt then impressed as the Bavarians drew 2-2 in the first leg of their quarter final in London and will return to Germany for the second match as favourites to qualify for the semi finals.

Bayern are now happy again with De Ligt.

Man Utd want a centre back

Man Utd are in the market for at least one top centre-back in the summer as a number of their current central defenders are likely to leave in the summer.

The futures of Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are in doubt as their contracts are expiring, while Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire’s futures are not secure either.

Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag (who may not be at the club next season, anyway) is a big fan of De Ligt having worked with him at Ajax.

During that time De Ligt emerged as arguably the most promising young centre back in Europe before signing for Juventus in the summer of 2019.

However, he never lived up to his potential at Juve, who sold him to Bayern Munich in 2022 for €80 million.

De Ligt signed a five-year contract in Bavaria that runs until 2027 but he has also struggled at times at Bayern, his recent form excluded.