Incoming manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly interested in bringing former protege Mattjhis de Ligt to Old Trafford.
Earlier this week, Ten Hag agreed a deal in principle to become United’s new manager and, unsurprisingly, there is already much speculation about what signings the 52-year-old will want to make once he arrives in Manchester.
Plenty of current and former players who worked under Ten Hag are among the names in the rumour mill, with claiming that centre-back De Ligt is being considered.
The 22-year-old came through Ajax’s academy and rose to prominence after winning a league and cup double under Ten Hag in 2019, whilst also reaching the Champions League semi-finals in the same year, knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus along the way.
United were previously linked with the Dutch defender before he was sold to the Turin club for £77million, but he retains a strong connection to the Red Devils having played against them in the 2017 Europa League final, in doing so becoming the youngest player ever to feature in a major European final.
De Ligt still has two years left on his contract with Juventus and with veteran duo Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci sure to be heading toward retirement sooner rather than later, it will not be easy for United to prize away one of the Italian side’s most valuable assets.
The Red Devils have already splashed the cash in the defensive department on likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Raphael Varane but with Ten Hag’s influence a move for De Ligt may not be so far-fetched.
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