Manchester United offer Barcelona target ‘huge’ contract

Manchester United are ready to offer Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt a whopping £236,000-per-week deal to stave off interest from Barcelona, according to reports.

The Catalan giants are reportedly the frontrunners to land the 19-year-old, who starred as the Dutch giants reached the Champions League semi-finals this season.

However, according to Spanish publication Sport, United are ready to fight off that interest by offering the talented youngster a contract worth £12.3million-a-year.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to bolster his defensive ranks after a miserable season for the Red Devils, and views De Ligt as the ideal man to give his side a much-needed boost.

This latest development comes after it emerged that discussions between Barcelona and De Ligt had hit a stumbling block.

Barca met with De Ligt and his world renowned agent Mino Raiola last month, where they reportedly agreed a deal which satisfied all parties.

However, Sport claim that the Ajax man is having second thoughts over the move, and is demanding a better financial package than is currently on the table.

Bayern Munich and Juventus are among the other side mooted with an interest in De Ligt, whose preferred move is believed to be the Nou Camp.

However, with negotiations over a transfer now hitting a sticking point, United are now in pole position to hijack that deal and pull off, what would be, one of the most impressive signings of the 2019 summer transfer window.