Premier League giants Manchester United have reportedly emerged as a major contender in the race to sign young Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt.
The 19-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young centre backs on the world football stage.
De Ligt currently plays his club football with Dutch Eredivisie outfit Ajax Amsterdam.
According to the report from renowned Italian news portal Tuttosport via thesportswitness, Manchester United will have to spend at least €40m to prise the Dutch international defender away from the former European champions.
The Red Devils are in the market for a new centre-back following their poor defensive showing in the opening stages of the current Premier League season.
Manchester United have conceded a whopping 17 goals in the first eleven league games of the new campaign.
In addition, the Red Devils have kept just one clean sheet in their first eleven Premier League games of the new campaign.
Manager Jose Mourinho requested for a new centre-back in the summer but he didn’t get his wish.
Manchester United have already given him a transfer war chest of £100m ahead of the upcoming transfer window in the New Year.
Mourinho wants a new centre-back and a new centre-forward.