(Football news) It is anticipated that Manchester United will sign a center-back this summer, though two may sign depending on what happens to Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof, and Harry Maguire.

Varane and Evans have contracts expiring at the end of June, and Lindelof and Maguire’s futures are still up in the air. Of the current group of central defenders, Lisandro Martinez is likely the only one who can be counted on to play at Old Trafford the next season.

De Ligt has been linked to a move to Manchester United, and it’s believed that Bayern is open to talking about the Netherlands international leaving during the next transfer window. 

However, when asked whether he or in-demand attacker Jamal Musiala could leave Allianz Arena this summer, De Ligt insisted that he had no plans to move on.

“Where to go? On holiday?” De Ligt told reporters while on international duty. “But no, I don’t think so. I hope for us and for Bayern that we’ll both stay. That’s what I’m assuming, too.

“I’m not yet where I want to be with the national team, but that also has to do with injuries. As a player you always want to play.

“We have a lot of good centre-backs. Ultimately, top football is about competing with many good defenders. You have to be there for the matches you get.”

De Ligt has made 22 appearances for Bayern during the 2023-24 campaign, and he has worked his way into the team in recent months, having started the campaign on the bench before picking up a knee injury.

In an international friendly against Germany on Tuesday night, the defender earned his 44th cap for the Netherlands by participating for the entire 90 minutes. Man United was rumored to be among the teams vying for De Ligt’s signing in the summer of 2019 following his standout campaigns for Ajax, the Dutch powerhouses.

The battle to sign him was ultimately won by Juventus. The defender played for the Old Lady for three seasons before joining Bayern, where he has since made 65 appearances for the German team. 

During his tenure at Allianz Arena, De Ligt has won the Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup, and Bayern will be vying for two more titles in the 2023–24 season.

Next month, Thomas Tuchel’s team, who are now a point behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga standings, will play Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals.

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