In order to make their first signing, Manchester United has reached an agreement with a world-class talent about personal terms
In particular, Erik ten Hag and Manchester United require the 2024-25 season to be a watershed moment in their history.
Despite shocking everyone by winning the FA Cup, the Red Devils failed significantly the previous season.
They were ousted from Europe after conceding the most goals by an English team in the Champions League group stages. They finished the season with a negative goal difference and the lowest finish in Premier League history (ESPN).
Man United and de Ligt reached an agreement.
Though the smart money was on Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his board leaving, the victory against Manchester City in the cup final may have given Ten Hag an unexpected reprieve from death.
The board may have hedged their risks by extending Ten Hag’s contract, since the Dutchman would have been entitled to pay, but it does offer the squad with some stability during a critical era.
According to the Manchester Evening News, it has surely helped United achieve a personal understanding with Matthijs de Ligt, a key summer target.
Ten Hag appointed de Ligt as captain of Ajax when he was just 19 years old. It would not be surprising if de Ligt took over as captain of the squad at Old Trafford, replacing Bruno Fernandes.
De Ligt will surely be donning his new team’s shirt soon and presumably entrenched as one of the team’s first-choice center backs for the upcoming season, if United can finally negotiate an equitable transfer arrangement with Bayern Munich.
