Manchester United have opened talks with the Bayern Munich defender

Bayern Munich had a good balance of arrivals and departures last summer. They ended the transfer window with a positive net spend. Bayern must follow the same approach this summer as they look to make big changes to their squad.

The Bavarian club need to sell well this summer to have enough funds to sign new players. The squad overhaul began with the arrival of Hiroki Ito from VfB Stuttgart. The Japanese defender will be a smart option in the central defense and left back positions for Die Roten.

Bayern are looking to add Jonathan Tah to the squad to further bolster their defence. They want to make room for these two signings by parting ways with Matthijs de Ligt. Planning for the Dutch defender’s departure from Munich has begun as Manchester United seriously weigh up a move for him.

According to Sky Sports in Germany, Manchester United have opened talks with De Ligt to explore a transfer. The Premier League club have yet to contact Bayern, but there is concrete interest in signing the Dutch defender.

De Ligt is open to joining Manchester United, even if he does not play in the Champions League next season. The Dutch international is content with life in Munich but does not want to be the fourth or fifth centre-back in the squad. With the signing of Ito and Tah, De Ligt will be further down the pecking order.

Bayern want to part with De Ligt as his wages are high and injuries in the Hinrunde last season are a concern. Die Roten will be looking to recoup most of the €70 million they paid Juventus for him in 2022. However, Manchester United would only want to pay half of Die Roten’s valuation.

De Ligt does not want to make a decision on his future now as he focuses on the Euros with Holland. The 24-year-old centre-back will hold talks with Vincent Kompany and Bayern after the tournament and make a decision on a transfer. Given that he has already welcomed talks with Manchester United, a move away from Munich seems inevitable.

It’s a shame that Bayern have to part with a player like De Ligt. The Dutch defender had injury problems in the first half of the season but made a brilliant comeback during the Ruckrunde. He was Die Roten’s best defender in his debut season. However, Bayern must reduce the wage bill and make room for new signings. A move to Manchester United will benefit all parties.