Breaking News: Manchester United target Matthijs de Ligt at the centre of police investigation – reports

German authorities are apparently looking into Matthijs de Ligt, a target for Manchester United, in relation to a claimed “car ramming incident.”

The Red Devils’ interest in the Dutch defender, who has been strongly linked to a summer transfer to Old Trafford, caused him to be left out of the Bayern Munich team for their preseason tour of South Korea.

De Ligt is suspected of “ramming a parked car” near Bayern’s Sabener Strasse training field on Wednesday morning while operating his £63,000 Audi Q8 e-tron, according to German publication BILD.

The defender “simply drove away” from the scene, according to the report, while witnesses contacted the police right away to report the incident.

The Netherlands international De Ligt’s automobile was apparently hauled away and confiscated, and it is now believed that he may face criminal charges.

De Ligt, 24, spent three seasons in Serie A at Juventus. United manager Erik ten Hag has previously expressed interest in the player. The two worked together at Ajax.

“I am familiar with De Ligt, so it’s unclear if he will attend,” Ten Hag told Dutch media in July.

“I wanted to sign him two years ago, but at that time, he was already very far along to join Bayern,” the United manager had previously stated. Surprisingly, I did not give him his name throughout that procedure.

“I was away from the process for three or four weeks while on vacation. During that time, these players were really brought in by the club through its freshly outfitted scouting and recruitment department.

It is only a coincidence that there are Dutch folks among them as well. These were players who were mostly recommended by our organisation. But let me be clear—I support it, of course. And we continue to decide together.”

The allegation of the event comes at a precarious moment in De Ligt’s playing career, as he has dropped in the hierarchy under new manager Vincent Kompany.

In 2022, Bayern spent a whooping £59.5 million to acquire the highly-regarded defender from Juventus.

It is only a coincidence that there are Dutch folks among them as well. These were players who were mostly recommended by our organisation. But let me be clear—I support it, of course. And we continue to decide together.”

The allegation of the event comes at a precarious moment in De Ligt’s playing career, as he has dropped in the hierarchy under new manager Vincent Kompany.

In 2022, Bayern spent a whooping £59.5 million to acquire the highly-regarded defender from Juventus.

In that time, De Ligt has played for three different managers and, despite a strong start to life in Bavaria, has not been able to return to peak performance.

United has not given up on pursuing De Ligt, even though they have cooled their interest in Jarrod Branthwaite of Everton after learning of the England star’s market value.