Manchester United are close to signing Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt and Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils are currently negotiating with De Ligt’s agents, as the 24-year-old Dutchman has prioritized Manchester United as his next destination. Bayern Munich are prepared to let the center-back leave if United meet his €50m release clause, which would result in a long-term contract until 2029, keeping him at Old Trafford.
Additionally, the club has prioritized Bologna’s center forward as part of their recruitment for this season.
Manchester United is not ready to trigger his €40m release clause but will agree to a three-year payment plan. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract and will undergo a medical in the coming days.
De Ligt gained fame with his outstanding performance at Ajax in 2019 before moving to Juventus. After three years, he transferred to Bayern Munich, where he played until United’s pursuit.
The Dutch center-back has made 117 appearances each for Ajax and Juventus, and 73 for Bayern Munich, scoring 38 goals in his club career. He has won league titles with all three clubs.
Joshua Zirkzee, who was promoted to Bayern Munich’s senior team in 2019, was loaned to Parma and Anderlecht before moving to Bologna.
He caught the attention of several European clubs this year following his impressive performance with the Dutch team in the UEFA Euros. With 80 goals and 46 assists, he is expected to succeed in England.
