Rapid developments in United’s pursuit of ’top priority’ target, he’s now ‘awaiting agreement’

Transfer chiefs at INEOS have certainly pulled their finger out in the last 24 hours when negotiating the arrivals of two top targets. 

Manchester United appeared to have upped the ante in their pursuit of Manuel Ugarte over the weekend after one report claimed their interest was now ‘serious’ in the Paris Saint-Germain star, with discussions underway between the two clubs.

Now, the board have quickly put the wheels in motion for facilitating a deal for Matthijs de Ligt; trusted Dutch reporter Mike Verweij of the Telegraaf has revealed early this morning that United have tabled a five-year contract proposal to the centre-half, who is now considered a ‘top priority’.

De Ligt, 24, is ‘awaiting [an] agreement’ between United and Bayern Munich, and it’s thought that the full terms of his transfer can be hashed out in the short-term. Seemingly, all that’s left to negotiate is a transfer fee.

Currently on international duty at the Euros, the defender may have been enticed by the prospect of reuniting with his former Ajax coach and teammates: Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Antony all played under Ten Hag in Amsterdam, the latter pairing following him straight over when his tenure ended at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ten Hag targets another ex-protegee

Back in 2019, De Ligt captained the Eredivisie outfit to a domestic double and the Champions League semi-finals at just 19 years old, quickly establishing himself as one of the hottest and most sought-after prospects in Europe in the process.

Juventus won the race for his signature the subsequent summer, and he stayed in Turin for three years before making the move to Bayern in 2022 for an initial £59.5 million.