Bayern Munich president drops big Matthijs de Ligt exit hint

Bayern Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeness has opened the door for Matthijs de Ligt to leave the club this summer amid strong interest from Manchester United.

The 24-year-old lost his place as a regular starter last season, with former boss Thomas Tuchel often preferring to partner Dayot Upamecano with Kim Min-jae in Bayern's defence.

United's desire to strengthen in central defence is no secret and they made a statement move when signing Leny Yoro from Lille in a deal worth over £50m - the 18-year-old is one of Europe's most coveted youngsters and a player Real Madrid had hoped to sign next summer.

But the Red Devils are not content with one arrival and are looking to back manager Erik ten Hag with more new signings in order to make United competitive again in the Premier League.

De Ligt is a player Ten Hag has long admired – the pair previously worked together at Ajax – and recent reports in Germany have suggested that United have already made an offer of €35m (£29.4m) which was turned down by Bayern.

Speaking to Sky Germany, outspoken Bayern figurehead Hoeness admitted he'd be happy for De Ligt to stay at the club, but also made a pointed remark about who he definitely wouldn't sell if push came to shove.

"It's possible that a defender will leave," Hoeness said. "I would have no problem if [De Ligt] stays. Personally, I would not sell Upamecano."

In further comments, Hoeness opened up on the need for Bayern to sell players in order to fund more signings of their own, saying: "No more players will come unless two or three players leave first. We now have three additional players, who cost a total of €125m. €125m!

"And if theoretically no one leaves now, then we will have three more players, and we will soon be able to travel to the games in an articulated bus. Max [Eberl] and Christoph [Freund] know full well that from now on new players can only come to FC Bayern if one or two prominent players leave first. FC Bayern doesn't have any money-wasters."

Bayern have spent lavishly on Michael Olise, Joao Palhinha and Hiroki Ito, providing new head coach Vincent Kompany with added quality as the Bavarian giants attempt to wrestle the Bundesliga title back from Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen.

As for United, they've completed the signing of Dutch international forward Joshua Zirkzee, and they also hope to fund further summer business by selling a number of fringe players.