Matthijs de Ligt has already sent clear Erik ten Hag Man United transfer verdict

One flaw to Erik ten Hag's transfer approach prior to the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos at Manchester United has been the Dutchman's insistence on negotiating deals for players he already knows. It hasn't always paid off.

Lisandro Martinez has been the outlier in this regard considering how quickly the Argentine became United's best defensive player. However, the likes of Antony, Sofyan Amrabat and Tyrell Malacia have either been ineffective or, at worst, a flop.

There would be no surprises, then, if there is to be a hint of scepticism surrounding the latest player to be linked to United - Matthijs de Ligt. The Bayern Munich centre-back was formed by Ten Hag at Ajax where he became a sensation for the Amsterdam club.

READ MORE: Hojlund's two-word De Ligt transfer verdict

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His performances at the heart of the defence saw European football's biggest clubs queue up to sign him with Juventus, and later the Bavarian giants, winning the race. However, since those days De Ligt has dropped down the pecking order in Munich and he is now believed to be keen on leaving.

United, who are looking for a centre-back following Raphael Varane's departure, are thought to be keen with reports in Germany suggesting the Reds have this week contacted Munich to gauge their position on selling him. With Ten Hag looking to make moves quickly to strengthen the defence, De Ligt has already given his verdict on the man who could be his boss for a second time.

"He is someone who loves his job and he loves to work," De Ligt said of Ten Hag in 2022 shortly after he was appointed United manager. "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." After having such a difficult stint in Munich, De Ligt will be hoping a reunion with Ten Hag is just what is needed to rejuvenate his career.