Exclusive: Liverpool make move to hijack De Ligt deal
Liverpool have registered their interest in signing Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, sources have told Football Insider.
New manager Arne Slot sees the 24-year-old as the ideal partner for the player’s fellow Dutch international centre-back Virgil Van Dijk.
Premier League rivals Manchester United are currently in advanced talks to sign De Ligt but Slot is pushing Liverpool to hijack the deal.
The new manager has earmarked the centre of defence as a position that the club needs to improve on after being unimpressed by Ibrahima Konaté.
Football Insider revealed (August 8) that the new manager “doesn’t fancy” the centre-back, 25, and does not see him as Van Dijk’s regular partner in the upcoming campaign.
Arne Slot pushing for Liverpool to hijack Matthijs de Ligt deal
De Ligt struggled for game time last season after falling out of favour with ex-manager Thomas Tuchel and has since been linked with a move away from Bavaria.
De Ligt made 23 starts among 30 appearances for Bayern last season as he lost his nailed-on starter status. By contrast, in the previous 2022-23 campaign, the Holland international started 38 Bayern matches among 43 appearances in all competitions.
Van Dijk, 33, is a player that Liverpool will have to replace over the next few transfer windows and despite De Ligt’s age, he has a wealth of top-level experience.
Man United still remain favourites to sign the defender given is relationship with now manager Erik ten Hag.
In other news, Mo Salah might be set to quit Liverpool this month.
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