Man Utd make Matthijs de Ligt transfer U-turn after advice from van Gaal scout

Manchester United are set to ignore former scout Marcel Bout's advice not to sign Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt.

The De Ligt saga has consumed the majority of the summer transfer window. The defender initially looked sure to reunite with his boss at Ajax, Erik ten Hag, but United prioritised the £58million move for 18-year-old Leny Yoro.

However, the young French centre-back is now out for three months after picking up an injury against Arsenal in pre-season, and De Ligt is now certain to make his move to Old Trafford.

In completing this deal, United would U-turn on the advice laid out in 2018 by Dutch scout Bout, who believed that a then-teenage De Ligt would eventually struggle with his weight.

Jose Mourinho labelled De Ligt as his first-choice defensive signing as United boss in 2018, before the Dutchman's Champions League antics that made him a universally admired prospect.

A deal for the Ajax man was explored. However, Bout refused to bless a move for the defender, believing that because De Ligt's father was overweight, the starlet would turn out similarly.

The club eventually paid a record £80m for Leicester centre-back Harry Maguire, and De Ligt moved to Italian giants Juventus for £67.8m. Bout, who was hired under Van Gaal, remained in Manchester until 2022.

It was under Ten Hag that De Ligt made a name for himself. Speaking in 2019 about a 19-year-old De Ligt, Ten Hag claimed that his captain was "one of the best defenders in Europe" and was unsure if he had "shown 60 to 80 per cent of his potential."

The pair are scheduled to work together again at United. De Ligt looks to be joining for a reported £42m from Bayern Munich - who paid £57.5m for his services just two years ago.

Moroccan right-back Noussair Mazraoui, 26, who also played under Ten Hag at Ajax, will join De Ligt in moving from Bavaria to Manchester, as he looks sure to seal a £17.1m deal.

Ten Hag has been coy about any further arrivals at Carrington but did state prior to the prospective signing of the Bayern pair that the club's new minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is eager to close deals this summer.

"It is always difficult to say," Ten Hag said when questioned about any potential incomings at Old Trafford. "We hope. We are always looking. This new leadership team is really eager to do business and to make deals. They are on it. But we have to wait if the timing is there and if the opportunities are there."