As Ten Hag prepares to restructure Manchester United's defense, De Ligt was supposed to be his main target, but Juventus have forced him to consider other choices.
Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has discovered a new defensive target.
As Erik ten Hag prepares to miss out on Matthijs de Ligt, Manchester United have identified an alternative target.
With United conceding the most goals in the Premier League's top eight, Ten Hag is looking to improve his defensive options. After watching Harry Maguire struggle this season, the Dutchman is desperate to bring in a new centre-back, with Eric Bailly and Phil Jones also poised to depart Old Trafford.
De Ligt, who had a successful working relationship under his guidance at Ajax, was thought to be his primary target. Since joining Juventus for £64 million in 2019, the Netherlands international has had a mixed time in Turin.
United emerged as a potential suitor with two years left on his deal at the Allianz Stadium. However, their efforts to sign the 22-year-old have now been severely hampered.
Juventus has 'no intention' of letting De Ligt go this summer, according to Tuttomercato. His great season under Massimiliano Allegri has 'put to rest' any doubts about his future.
The Serie A giants are set to offer him a new deal, according to reports. De Ligt is currently 'considering' the offer, with Juventus desperate to secure his long-term future.
Mattijhs de Ligt
Mattijhs de Ligt is set to sign a new contract with Juventus.
After being dealt a major setback in his transfer plans, Ten Hag is now looking into other possibilities. Eintracht Frankfurt's Evan Ndicka is one of the players they're 'following,' according to transfer insider Fabrice Hawkins.
After helping Frankfurt win the Europa League this season, Ndicka is characterized as "extremely courted." He has 44 appearances in all competitions, including a start in the Europa League final against Rangers on Wednesday.
This secured their position in the Champions League for the following season, with Ndicka not ruling out a return to the competition for the Bundesliga club. However, there have been rumors that Frankfurt may try to cash in on the Frenchman this summer.
This summer, he will enter the final year of his contract, and with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur hovering, the forthcoming window is the ideal time for Frankfurt to sell. That'll be good news for Ten Hag, who can't afford to lose another one of his main objectives.
United is thought to have dispatched scouts to watch Ndicka's play in the Europa League final against Rangers. However, given that former AC Milan great Mark Hateley identified him as a weak point for Frankfurt, they may not have been impressed with his performance.
"Although the possession hasn't yielded anything, you're not chasing the ball in this heat. Moving it from side to side gives you control. I believe Ndicka will be all over the place if Rangers get the ball in and around his feet. He isn't interested in the ball "In a commentary, Hateley claimed
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