Manchester United are very close to signing Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax, according to reports from Spain.It was initially thought that the centre-back preferred a summer move to Barcelona, but it seems the situation has taken a twistCatalonia’s RAC1 are claiming De Ligt is very close to a move to Old Trafford, because the Red Devils have made him an offer then he can’t refuse.And well-sourced journalist Gerard Romero has also added fuel to the fire by tweeting: ‘De Ligt very close to United! Not definitive but very good proposal for the player.’The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney has also shared what he’s heard about the rumour.

United willing to offer ‘staggering’ money to De Ligt, and he is listening,” he wrote on Twitter.

But he added: “Worth noting, though, that De Jong had similar with PSG (and was close) before eventually doing what everyone expected and signing for Barca.”

We could be looking at Manchester United's new centre-back.

The Premier League club are competing with Barcelona for De Ligt's signing and, if these reports are correct, they may have won the battle.

Delaney added that Barcelona's financial situation could help Man United.

"Barca also have an issue where they badly need players off their wage bill to facilitate such signings," he added.

"A huge problem for them is, well, no one willingly wants to leave Barca. Great club, great money, great lifestyle. Would take huge wage to get Rakitic, for example."

It would mean De Ligt missing out on Champions League football next season, though, after the Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League.

But it seems as though the 19-year-old is ready to accept a year out of the competition in the hopes of getting Man United back into it.