Man Utd closing in on Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt

The Red Devils, aiming to strengthen their defence, have targeted the 23-year-old Dutch centre-back for a reported £42million fee demanded by Bayern.

United's pursuit of De Ligt comes as part of their strategy to overhaul their defensive options. They recently released Raphael Varane and plan to sell Victor Lindelof, whose contract expires next year, making room for new signings.

Manager Erik ten Hag, who previously coached De Ligt at Ajax, sees him as a crucial addition to bolster United's backline.

Despite an unsuccessful bid for Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, valued between £70million to £80million by his club, United remain optimistic about securing De Ligt.

The negotiations benefit from United's existing relationship with De Ligt's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, facilitating smoother talks.

De Ligt, who moved to Juventus in 2019 for £68million, has been on United's radar since his youth days at Ajax, where he was scouted by the club.

His potential arrival would strengthen United's Dutch contingent, already bolstered by former Ajax players, a trend that has continued under Ten Hag's tenure.

While De Ligt is currently with the Netherlands squad at Euro 2024, he has yet to feature in any matches, hinting at his focus on resolving his club future.

United's negotiations with Bayern, with whom they last engaged over Marcel Sabitzer, signify their intent to finalise a deal swiftly ahead of the new season.