LONDON - Manchester United are ready to offer Matthijs de Ligt an escape route from Juventus if the Dutch defender continues to struggle in Italy.
De Ligt was one of the hottest properties in European football last summer when he turned down a number of clubs to join Juve for £67.5million after leading Ajax to the semi-final of the Champions League.
However, the 20-year-old centre back has failed to adapt during a difficult first season in Serie A and lost his place to Merih Demiral before the Turk was injured in January.
United are understood to be monitoring the situation in case Juve decide to cut their losses. They are aware that the player’s agent Mino Raiola has a reputation for moving his clients on quickly and De Ligt could become available next summer or even sooner.
United have plenty of options in central defence at the moment after spending £80m on Harry Maguire last summer to play alongside Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe or Phil Jones.
However, with Chris Smalling set to move on after a season on loan at Roma and Jones likely to follow him out of Old Trafford in the summer, United could be in the market for another centre back in the next 12 months.
They are well aware of De Ligt’s qualities having scouted him extensively as he rose through the ranks at Ajax before making his breakthrough in 2016.