Manchester United's pre-season has been marred by a spate of injuries, underscoring the urgent need for reinforcements to bolster the squad. The recent setbacks, particularly the blows suffered by Rasmus Højlund and Leny Yoro against Arsenal, have compounded the misery for manager Erik ten Hag.
In the aftermath of the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, Ten Hag provided further updates on the fitness of five players, painting a concerning picture of the injury situation at Old Trafford.
The heart of the defense has been hit hardest, with Yoro joined on the sidelines by Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelöf, and Harry Maguire, although the latter is expected to be fit in time for the Community Shield game against Manchester City next weekend.
The injury crisis has reignited United's pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt, a transfer target that had seemingly taken a backseat but now demands immediate attention. The Dutch defender's potential arrival could provide a much-needed boost to a backline ravaged by fitness concerns.
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Max Eberl speaks out on De Ligt
The Red Devils recently submitted a double bid for De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, as both players have been deemed surplus to requirements by Bayern Munich.
Although the offer was turned down, discussions are still ongoing, and there is optimism that a resolution will be reached that satisfies all parties involved.
Bayern Munich's sporting director, Max Eberl, has now commented on the potential transfer for the first time.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed on X (formerly Twitter) the move is "imminent", with Eberl saying: "I will comment on it when the time comes. It is not the time yet. Matthijs has played very well here for two years, and that’s why many fans like him.
"Nevertheless, you have to think about how you make decisions and also how the boy feels. He is still a player of FC Bayern. And as long as he is, he will get all our support."
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Eberl's comments suggest that De Ligt's move to Old Trafford could be more a question of "when" rather than "if."
However, his remark that "now is not the time yet" reinforces Bayern Munich's position to hold firm on their asking price.
