Manchester United are growing increasingly confident that Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt will join the club this summer, after holding talks with manager Erik ten Hag

Manchester United are confident of signing Matthijs de Ligt in a deal worth around PS43million after manager Erik ten Hag stepped up his charm offensive to take the Bayern Munich defender to Old Trafford.

Ten Hag has spoken to the Dutch centre-back to outline his plans for United following the club's decision to trigger a one-year contract extension clause that means the 54-year-old will be in charge for the next two seasons. It's hardly a ringing endorsement for Ten Hag by new United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe following a prolonged search for a potential successor.

But Ten Hag had already told De Ligt that his job was safe when they discussed how the 24-year-old will be the defensive rock on which he will continue to develop his United team - and the former Ajax star is now determined to force through the move after the Euros.

Bayern do not want to lose the 24-year-old - and fans have launched a petition in a bid to persuade him to stay. It has already been signed by more than 16,000 supporters. But the Bundesliga club will not stand in his way if United meet their valuation.

The United boss told him that he is planning to use him alongside former Ajax team-mate Lisandro Martinez in a 4-3-3 formation. De Ligt sparked a major row at the 2022 World Cup by telling Holland boss Louis van Gaal during a press conference that if he wanted to adopt a three-man defence then he should be left out of the team in favour of Arsenal 's Jurrien Timber.

De Ligt admitted: "In hindsight, that remark was a very costly one. I would not say it again, but it was in the heat of the moment and straight from the heart. And mentally I was in a different place at the time, compared to where I am now.

"I grew up with 4-3-3 at Ajax. I always played that system. I liked it, but I can play in different systems. I think that 4-3-3 just suits me better - and it still does.

Erik ten Hag and De Ligt are primed for a reunion at Man Utd this summer ( Image:

De Ligt played just a single minute in Qatar following his confession that he struggled with Van Gaal's philosophy. Current Holland coach Ronald Koeman has used him in a four-man backline at international level, although he has preferred Stefan de Vrij to play alongside Virgil van Dijk in Germany.

De Ligt said: "Under Koeman, I have got all the confidence again. I feel really good, even though I have other defenders in front of me now. But I will be there if he needs me to come on.

"I have learnt so much, only now I am the complete defender. I first learned to play attacking football at Ajax, then I went to Juventus.

De Ligt accepts he made a mistake by suggesting he wouldn't be able to play in a different formation for the national side ( Image:

"At Bayern it is all about tempo, sprinting, sprinting and being explosive. That is Bundesliga football. I feel like a fish in a great pond here. Fellow players trust me and I am important for the team.

"When I look at the big games I have played in the Champions League and in the Bundesliga, I would say I have reached the highest level in my career. But I also think I can add even more and reach an even higher level."

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