Manchester United are edging closer to a deal to bring Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to Old Trafford.
Moves for the duo are expected to be finalized today, with both players ready to join the Red Devils on five-year contracts, as part of a major defensive reshuffle for Erik ten Hag.
The pair are long-term targets for United, with Mazraoui able to cover in both full-back positions, and de Ligt expected to come straight in as a starting centre-back.
MORE: All the latest Man Utd news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
Matthijs de Ligt Man United transfer fee, contract
The deal to bring de Ligt to Manchester involves a contract until 2029, with the option to extend for a further 12 months, as the 25-year-old reunites with former Ajax boss Ten Hag.
The combined deal for De Ligt and Mazraoui is valued at approximately £60 million ($76.5m), with Bayern Munich accepting separate bids totalling £51.5 million ($65.7m) for the two defenders.
Why are Man United signing Matthijs de Ligt?
Some United fans are bemused by Ten Hag's determination to sign his fellow Dutchman following mixed spells at Juventus and Bayern Munich.
The promise de Ligt showed under ten Hag''s leadership at Ajax has not developed into the level of consistency needed to be a top central defender and his impending move to Manchester will be career-defining.
With Bayern open to moving him on, after just 16 Bundesliga starts last season, De Ligt knows this is his chance to realise his potential.
With plenty to prove, Ten Hag is hoping de Ligt can offer the calmness and progressive passing which was often lacking from his backline in 2023/24.
Injuries and a lack of rhythm in defence cost United last season, with Harry Maguire making the most EPL starts of any central defender in ten Hag's ranks, with just 18.
With Raphael Varane moving on, and doubts over the long-term futures of Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, De Ligt looks to be the ideal partner for the fit-again Lisandro Martinez.
Maguire and Lindelof in particular struggle with passing out from defensive positions, with the former managing an 83% pass completion rate in EPL action, and the latter 89% from last season.
De Ligt's pass completion rate totalled 94% in the Bundesliga in the previous campaign as the second highest in the German top-flight.
Additionally, United's FA Community Shield defeat to Manchester City demonstrated Ten Hag's plan to utilise the pace of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund in behind, against higher-rated opposition.
For that tactic to work, long passes from defence need to be accurate, to maximise their effect, and de Ligt is more accomplished in that area.
Maguire's 2023/24 EPL long pass success rate was 58%, with Lindelof on 67%, as de Ligt's searching passes to Bayern Munich's speedsters hit the 77% mark, the fourth-highest of any central defender in the German top tier.
