Paris Saint-Germain are offering Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt the biggest financial package and are increasingly hopeful of gazumping every other interested club to a deal.

Barcelona have been the 19-year-old’s preference in terms of pure football, and Manchester United were willing to offer the highest wage with a deal of £350,000 a week.

But sources say the French champions have gone higher as regards the latter.

PSG have also set out a persuasive plan, that explains De Ligt’s role in the team and future.

Barcelona have not yet given up hope, but it is felt by those close to the situation that the French club are now leading the race.

Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Show all 14 1 /14 Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Uefa Nations League 2019 Team of the Tournament Portugal lift the trophy after beating the Netherlands in the final EPA Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Jordan Pickford, England epa07637297 England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford celebrates after the UEFA Nations League third place soccer match between Switzerland and England in Guimaraes, Portugal, 09 June 2019. EPA/HUGO DELGADO HUGO DELGADO EPA Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Kevin Mbabu, Switzerland epa07636895 Switzerland's player Kevin Mbabu (R) vies for the ball with England's player Raheem Sterling during the UEFA Nations League third place soccer match between Switzerland and England in Guimaraes, Portugal, 09 June 2019. EPA/FERNANDO VELUDO FERNANDO VELUDO EPA Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Manuel Akanji, Switzerland epa07636872 Switzerland's player Manuel Akanji (R) vies for the ball with England's player Dele Alli during the UEFA Nations League third place soccer match between Switzerland and England in Guimaraes, Portugal, 09 June 2019. EPA/FERNANDO VELUDO FERNANDO VELUDO EPA Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Ruben Dias, Portugal Netherlands' forward Steven Bergwijn (L) challenges Portugal's defender Ruben Dias during the UEFA Nations League final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the Dragao Stadium in Porto on June 9, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Matthijs de Ligt, Netherlands Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, left, duels for the ball with Netherlands' Matthijs de Ligt during the UEFA Nations League final soccer match between Portugal and Netherlands at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira) Luis Vieira AP Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Raphael Guerreiro, Portugal Netherlands' Virgil Van Dijk, left, tries to block a shot from Portugal's Raphael Guerreiro during the UEFA Nations League final soccer match between Portugal and Netherlands at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira) Luis Vieira AP Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Marten de Roon, Netherlands epa07637793 Netherlands player Marten de Roon reacts during the UEFA Nations League final soccer match Portugal vs Netherlands at Dragao stadium, Porto, Portugal, 09 June 2019. EPA/JOSE COELHO JOSE COELHO EPA Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Bernardo Silva, Portugal Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League Final - Portugal v Netherlands - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - June 9, 2019 Portugal's Bernardo Silva celebrates winning the UEFA Nations League Final with the trophy Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Frenkie de Jong, Netherlands Portugal's William Carvalho, left, duels for the ball with Netherlands' Frenkie de Jong during the UEFA Nations League final soccer match between Portugal and Netherlands at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira) Luis Vieira AP Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Memphis Depay, Netherlands Netherlands' forward Memphis Depay reacts after missing a goal opportunity during the UEFA Nations League final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the Dragao Stadium in Porto on June 9, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal TOPSHOT - Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo kisses the trophy after winning the UEFA Nations League final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the Dragao Stadium in Porto on June 9, 2019. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP/Getty Images Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Player of the Tournament: Bernardo Silva, Portugal Portugal's Bernardo Silva celebrates after the final whistle during the Nations League Final at Estadio do Dragao, Porto. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday June 9, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Final. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only in permitted publications not devoted to any team, player or match. No commercial use. Stills use only - no video simulation. No commercial association without UEFA permission. please contact PA Images for further information. Mike Egerton PA Uefa Nations League team of the tournament 2019 Young Player of the Tournament: Frenkie de Jong GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL - JUNE 06: Raheem Sterling of England is challenged by Frenkie de Jong of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between the Netherlands and England at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on June 06, 2019 in Guimaraes, Portugal. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Dean Mouhtaropoulos Getty Images

De Ligt was ambiguous when pushed on his future after featuring in the Nations League final against Portugal, with the Netherlands losing 1-0.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” De Ligt said when asked what colour shirt he would be wearing next season.

De Ligt challenges Ronaldo (AP)