Dan Ashworth compiles Man Utd 4 player transfer wishlist after finally completing Old Trafford move

New Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has reportedly identified four key summer transfer targets.

With Ashworth now officially on board at Old Trafford after a protracted move from English Premier League rivals Newcastle United, preparations to shake up the transfer market are underway.

And reports in the Daily Mail suggest that Ashworth has set his sights on four specific players. One of those targets appears to be Bayern Munich defender Matthijs De Ligt, who is seemingly keen on for a switch to Old Trafford. United hope to secure this deal for around £42 million, as the German titans strive to collect funds for their pursuit of Jonathan Tah.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag shares a history with De Ligt, having guided him during his tenure at Ajax and even making him the club's youngest captain in 2018. De Ligt had nothing but praise for his former manager upon his appointment at Manchester United in 2022.

"He is someone who loves his job and he loves to work," stated De Ligt. "He wants to do everything to make his team play better. He's really into the details. This makes him a really good trainer who improves players. He has a lot of qualities to succeed and we will have to see how he goes."

Manchester United's quest to bolster their squad has hit a snag with Everton rejecting an initial bid for defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The Old Trafford outfit is reportedly balking at the Toffees' hefty £70m price tag but might come back with a better offer.

The Red Devils are on the hunt for fresh talent, eyeing not just a centre-back but also a new defensive midfielder and striker. They've been linked with moves for Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, who could be available due to a £34m release clause, and Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte.

Bologna's technical director Giovanni Sartori spoke to Sky Sport Italia about Zirkzee's likely departure: "Zirkzee has a clause so he will leave 99.9 per cent. We have been thinking about his replacement for months. It won't be easy but we will work to replace him, we already have some names, some ideas."

The Red Devils, thus far, have made no fresh signings for the first team this summer. However, several familiar faces like Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams, and Omari Forson have departed.

Additionally, veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton has extended his contract by a year, while Jonny Evans has also been tabled a fresh deal.