Manchester United have been told to expect a decision from Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt in the coming days with the Premier League club still hoping to beat Barcelona in the race to sign the centre back.

Although United sources have been privately briefing that they believe Barcelona agreed a deal with the 19-year-old and his representatives months ago, tellingly that has not stopped them trying to scupper the move.

If you are convinced one of your main transfer targets has already made up his mind, why waste time and effort working so hard to get your own deal done?

Telegraph Sport revealed last month that De Ligt was still tempted by a move to United, despite the lack of Champions League football and had not made any commitment to sign for Barça before winning the league and cup double with Ajax.

And there is a view in Holland that the move to United is the better option. De Ligt’s sole motivation since he first arrived in the Ajax Academy at the age of six was to turn himself into the best defender in the world and a move to England would arguably make him a more complete defender.