Matthijs de Ligt has expressed his desire to play under managers who truly want him and within an attacking system amid links of a transfer to Manchester United.

De Ligt, 24, is one of the top targets for United, and there are rumours that a summer move reuniting him with his ex-manager from Ajax may be in the offing, reports the Mirror.

The Dutch defender moved from Juventus to Bayern Munich on a significant contract just two years ago, after spending three years at the Turin-based club.

Now, it appears De Ligt might be ready for another switch, this time to Manchester after he reportedly told his agent Rafaela Pimenta that he'd only consider leaving the Bavarian giants for the Red Devils.

In a conversation with ESPN post his switch to Bayern, De Ligt offered some insights into what draws him to a club, having discussed the importance of a club's administration showing strong interest in acquiring his services and the sporting philosophy adopted by the team.

"First of all that the club wants you is obviously a big thing, I think the board really showed me that they wanted me to become a player of Bayern Munich that also says a lot for me because it's really important," he stated in 2022.

"I think the club suits me really well, I think it's offensive football, hard training [and] high intensity, I think that's something that I really search [for] in a club and that's perfectly in my world."

Prices start from PS55

Kitbag Sir Jim Ratcliffe awarded Ten Hag, 54, with contract extension until 2026, as the Dutchman acknowledges the road to victory will be laborious as he stated: "We must also be clear that there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which means challenging for English and European titles".

The potential transfer of De Ligt could offer a ray of hope with the ex-Ajax star potentially joining United's ranks for as little as PS40million - a remarkably lower amount than the PS56million Bayern paid for him.

Ten Hag further revealed his alignment with the club's vision by adding: "In my discussions with the club, we have found complete unity in our vision for reaching those goals, and we are all strongly committed to making that journey together."