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Manchester United are very close to completing the signature of Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.
That is according to The Metro who have picked up on reports coming out of Spain which indicate that United have leap-frogged Barcelona in the race to sign one of the hottest young talents in Europe.
Barcelona had been heavy favourites to sign the 19-year old, and had agreed a £61 million (€70 million) fee with Ajax for de Ligt. However, the deal had stalled because de Ligt’s agent Mino Raiola is demanding a 20% commission on the deal, giving United the chance to pounce.
De Ligt is apparently undeterred by the fact that United will not be playing Champions League football next season, having been made an offer that is too good to turn down, and he is regarded by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a key part of his summer overhaul at Old Trafford this season.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.