Erik ten Hag has admitted he is none the wiser as to whether Manchester United will end up completing a deal for Matthijs de Ligt, conceding that the club’s list of transfer targets were drawn up while he was on holiday.
United have agreed personal terms with centre-back De Ligt, but it remains unclear whether a fee with Bayern Munich will be rubber-stamped following the £59m arrival of Leny Yoro and a possible fresh opening for Jarrad Branthwaite.
The Dutch defender played 70 matches under Ten Hag at Ajax, the most games he has played under a manager in his senior career. The United boss, who insists he does have an influence over signings, wanted to recruit then-Juventus star De Ligt two years ago but lost out to Bayern.
The manager admits that he is unsure whether the 24-year-old will end up at Old Trafford this time around, despite his former links with the centre-half. Speaking to Dutch outlet AD Sportwereld, he said: “It remains to be seen whether De Ligt will come. I know Matthijs well and I will not deny that.
