MANCHESTER UNITED have named Matthijs de Ligt as their first summer signing.
The centre-back is expected to complete his £40m move once the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 campaign ends.
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Red Devils coach Erik ten Hag worked with the 24-year-old at Ajax.
Centre-back was a huge problem for United last season, with Casemiro struggling as a makeshift option.
Ten Hag was forced to give 36-year-old Jonny Evans 15 Premier League appearances.
De Ligt has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern Munich and could form a solid partnership with another former Ajax ace, Lisandro Martinez.
Ten Hag gave him the opportunity to play for the first team when he was a teenager and the Dutchman is a big fan of the United boss.
Speaking after taking up the role at Old Trafford in 2022, De Ligt said: “He is someone who loves his job and loves working.
“He wants to do everything he can to make his team play better.
“He really likes the details. This makes him a very good coach, who improves his players.
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“He has a lot of qualities to be successful and we will have to see how he does.”
United will listen to offers for Marcus Rashford following the breakdown of his relationship with Ten Hag.
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They will want £80m for the number 10 but may have to accept around £60m after his dip in form last season.
Rashford and Ten Hag barely spoke at the end 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 striker thought he would start from scratch under a new manager before Ten Hag turned things around with a stunning FA Cup final comeback over Manchester City.
United will now support the Dutchman’s vision and look set to abandon one of their academy’s biggest success stories.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
