Prominent Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano provides an update on Manchester United’s pursuit of a “world-class” player, revealing that the player has agreed to join the club.

Manchester United are still negotiating with Bayern Munich for the signing of Matthijs de Ligt, although they have reached an agreement with the player, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

De Ligt is eager to move to Old Trafford after dropping down the pecking order at Bayern and has agreed to personal terms. The Dutch defender is set to sign a five-year contract and is expected to form a long-term partnership with Lisandro Martínez at the heart of United’s defence.

However, Romano has revealed that the two clubs are still engaged in discussions about the transfer, with the fee or payment structure potentially delaying its completion. Bayern is holding out for €50 million, while United might be looking to pay a slightly lower amount for the 24-year-old.

Bayern and United Still Negotiating
The move is expected to materialize soon.

After bursting onto the scene in 2017 with Ajax, De Ligt’s career trajectory has not followed the upward path many expected. Despite two big-money moves, the Netherlands international has struggled to establish himself as a mainstay at either Bayern or Juventus.

The centre-back started just 16 Bundesliga games last season, falling behind the likes of Eric Dier, Dayot Upamecano, and Kim Min-Jae in Thomas Tuchel’s defensive preferences. The promise of a prominent role in the north-west of England beckons, with the player believing he will be ‘happier’ at United.

This has made negotiations on the player’s side straightforward for Dan Ashworth and Erik ten Hag, but Bayern remain firm in their demands for De Ligt, who was labeled “world-class” by Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund last season. Speaking on his transfer update live show on Monday night, transfer journalist Romano revealed that the two clubs remain locked in talks:

“Manchester United keep working on the deal for Matthijs de Ligt; it’s a separate story [to Leny Yoro]. Manchester United are still in conversations and still in negotiation for Matthijs de Ligt with Bayern. [There is an] agreement with the player, but still in negotiation with Bayern.”

With De Ligt’s preference to move and the clubs continuing to negotiate, it is expected that all parties are invested in making the deal happen. Thus, a compromise could be reached, as United look to bolster their defensive options. The defender will join the likes of Martínez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans as part of the Red Devils’ central defensive cohort.

While the signing of De Ligt may appear to rule out moves for other center-back targets, reports suggest that United still want to sign Leny Yoro despite the potentially imminent arrival of the Bayern man. Romano also hints at this continued interest in the Frenchman in his transfer update show, with INEOS reportedly offering €50 million for the 18-year-old.

The FA Cup winners will face competition from Real Madrid, believed to be Yoro’s preferred destination, but United believe they are in a strong position to land his signature. The Lille man could be available on a free transfer next summer if the north-west side is willing to wait.

French journalist Nabil Djellit suggested on Tuesday that United are now discussing personal terms with Yoro in a bid to finalize a deal.