This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
Manchester United are on the verge of signing 19-year-old centre-back Matthijs De Ligt from Ajax, with the two clubs reportedly having an agreement in place.
De Ligt has been linked with several top European clubs this summer, including Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, but it appears that Manchester United are now the favourites to land the talented young defender.
According to reports, Juventus had agreed personal terms with De Ligt, but the deal collapsed due to a disagreement over the transfer fee, with Ajax reportedly demanding a figure close to £78m.
Manchester United are now believed to be in pole position to sign De Ligt, with the two clubs reportedly having an agreement in place for a transfer fee of around £75m.
French journalist Julien Laurens has suggested that Manchester United are well-placed to land De Ligt if Juventus fail to complete the deal, saying: "There's a chance where Ajax will lose a little bit of patience and say 'hang on a minute, PSG agreed, United agreed. In that case we stop talking to Juventus and De Ligt can choose between the clubs that we actually have an agreement in place'.
De Ligt has been in high demand this summer, with several top clubs vying for his signature. However, it appears that Manchester United are now the favourites to land the talented young defender.
