MANCHESTER UNITED have lined up Matthijs de Ligt as their first summer signing.
The centre-back is set to complete his £40million move once the Netherlands‘ Euro 2024 campaign is over.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag worked with the 24-year-old at Ajax.
Centre-back was a massive issue for United last season with Casemiro struggling as a makeshift option.
Ten Hag was forced to hand 36-year-old Jonny Evans 15 starts in the Premier League.
De Ligt has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern Munich and could form a solid partnership with another former Ajax ace in Lisandro Martinez.
Ten Hag handed him his first-team opportunity as a teen and the Dutchman is a big fan of the United chief.
Speaking after he took the Old Trafford job in 2022, De Ligt said: “He is someone who loves his job and he loves to work.
“He wants to do everything to make his team play better.
“He’s really into the details. This makes him a really good trainer who improves players.
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“He has a lot of qualities to succeed and we will have to see how he goes.”
United will listen to offers for Marcus Rashford after the breakdown of his relationship with Erik ten Hag.
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They will want £80million for their No10 but may have to accept nearer £60m following his drop in form last season.
Rashford and Ten Hag were barely on speaking terms by the end of it after he defied the manager by partying until the early hours in Belfast when he was due to train at Carrington later that day.
The England forward thought he would be getting a fresh start under a new manager before Ten Hag turned things round with a stunning FA Cup final upset of Manchester City.
United will now back the Dutchman’s vision and look set to part ways with one of their academy’s biggest success stories.