Man United transfer news: Matthijs de Ligt, Raphael Varane on the radar as United look to bolster centre-back ranks

Also, take a look at our picks for right-back, centre midfield, right wing and striker.

Dream 1: Matthijs de Ligt

United haven’t been as heavily linked with Ajax’s young captain as they have with other centre-back targets, but De Ligt would probably be the best signing of the players potentially on the move.

He’s only 19 years old, he’s the reigning winner of the Golden Boy award given to the best young player in Europe, and his stock has only risen since Ajax knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League, with De Ligt the best centre-back on display that night.

The Netherlands star has been producing performances like that quite often, and he’s come a long way since the Europa League final two seasons ago when United were able to press him and force him into bad passes that meant Ajax handed over the initiative in the game. Barcelona remain the favourites to sign him,, but if there’s even the slightest chance he’d be open to a move to United, the club should pounce.

Dream 2: Kalidou Koulibaly

The Napoli defender is a man United have been linked with all season, and at 27, he could decide that now is the right time to move on from the Serie A club, who have endured a frustrating season having been knocked out of the Champions League at the group stages and failed to mount a serious challenge to Juventus for the league crown – though Europa League glory is still on offer.

Koulibaly would be a similar signing to what Virgil van Dijk was for Liverpool last season. A big-money centre-back entering his prime who would walk straight into United’s XI, and the hope would be that he does exactly what the Dutchman has done for Jurgen Klopp. His lack of Premier League experience makes him a slight risk, especially as he could cost close to £100m, but there’s no doubting his talent would make him worth it.

Dream 3: Raphael Varane

United were supposedly monitoring Varane’s availability last summer, with reports suggesting the board had gone as far as to tell then-manager Jose Mourinho that they would only sanction a big-money purchase for a centre-back if the Real Madrid star or someone of his calibre was available. This is a player who won the World Cup last season and finished in the top 10 of the voting for the 2018 Ballon d’Or, the only defender to do so.

Whether Varane’s transfer status has changed in the past year remains up in the air. Recent reports suggest the 25-year-old is looking for a new challenge, though the return of Zinedine Zidane as Madrid head coach will weigh heavily on any decision the centre-back makes.

But if there’s even a hint that he could be on the move, expect United to go all out to sign him. They were interested in Varane when he was looking to leave Lens in 2011, though he ultimately spurned them for Madrid, and of course there was the speculation last year. This would be a move that has been years in the making.

Realistic: Toby Alderweireld

In all likelihood, even if United do get one premium centre-back this summer, that won’t stop them from also signing Toby Aldereweireld. The Spurs man was a target last summer and has a release clause that means he’ll be available for just £25m in the upcoming transfer window. That sort of fee gives United the license to sign the Belgian and still bring in another player at the position.

Alderweireld is the ideal signing in any case. Affordable, and equally as important, someone with plenty of Premier League experience who’s ready to slot instantly into the United squad. He’ll serve as a mentor and challenger for players like Lindelof, Bailly, and the rest of United’s centre-backs, and his own quality will instantly improve United’s at-times suspect defence.

Alternative: Ruben Dias

Given Alderweireld’s release clause, Ruben Dias may actually be a slightly more expensive alternative. Reports have suggested a fee as low as £25.6m but it could end up being much more.

The 21-year-old Benfica star has been extensively scouted by United, so Dias is definitely on the radar. Having missed out on Eder Militao, the Porto man who has now agreed a move to Madrid, United would be loathe to miss out on another target from the Primeira Liga.

The club have a generally good record with signing players from Portugal, with only the shock signing of striker Bebe in 2010 a true failure in that regard, so Dias would be adding to a rich lineage of Primeira Liga signings at United.