Matthijs de Ligt's proposed move to Barcelona is beginning to look a little less likely.

News earlier in the week appeared to suggest that the Ajax centre-back would be joining his international colleague Frenkie de Jong in Catalonia this summer.

A deal was reportedly reached for the 19-year-old back in April, but after Ajax's incredible season, De Ligt's agent Mino Raiola believes Barca's offer should be increased.

The Blaugrana are not willing to budge and are instead relying on the teenage starlet's desire to play for the club alongside Lionel Messi and De Jong.

Raiola's new financial demands and eagerness for a bidding war between the European elite has now allowed Manchester United back into the picture.

While the Red Devils are currently in a bit of a negative spiral and won't be playing Champions League football next season, they still possess immense player pulling power.

And they're also a far richer club than Barca, despite the gulf in class between the two sides out on the pitch right now.

As such, United have been able to offer De Ligt a huge contract containing a €14m-per-year salary, according to Catalan publication to Sport.

That works out around £236,000-a-week, a wage that would put him close to United's highest earners.

De Ligt would probably have a number of bonuses in his contract as well, much like Alexis Sanchez, who is awarded every time he makes an appearance, scores or assists - he saved them quite a bit of money in 2018/19.

The signing of De Ligt would be the statement United need to make in the transfer market as he is the most wanted player in Europe right now.

But would he want to move to Old Trafford? He probably would.

The money would be good and he would have the potential to revive and galvanise one of the world's biggest football clubs.