Manchester United transfer rumours: Double Dutch for Erik Ten Hag's men as they reportedly close in on Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee

Now that the men from the North West have got Dan Ashworth on board as Sporting Director, it appears that the Red Devils' recruitment plans are now full steam ahead. 

Erik Ten Hag extended his contract last week and will lead his side into the upcoming season after winning the FA Cup despite a disappointing season that saw them exit the Champions League at the group stage and finish eighth in the Premier League.

It seems that the Dutchman has had a big say in two potential transfers, with his compatriots Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee reportedly close to joining the club. 

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that both players are interested in the move to Manchester and have given the green light to Ten Hag, with the Red Devils preparing to advance on the club side of the deal in the coming days. 

Zirkzee scored 11 Serie A goals for Bologna this season as they qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 60 years. 

The 23-year-old has also played for Bayern Munich and Anderlecht, while he made his debut for the Netherlands national team in Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final win against Turkey. 

The young Dutchman joins a forward line that includes the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund, so Zirkzee's reported arrival adds even more youth to a promising forward line. 

Defence was a big problem for Man United last year and it appears that Ten Hag has opted for yet another player who he coached at Ajax in the form of de Ligt. 

The defender has been plying his trade for Bayern Munich over the last two seasons and won the Bundesliga in 2023, before that he was with Juventus and won the Serie A in 2020. 

However, it was with Ten Hag at Ajax where de Ligt first burst on to the scene and the Man United boss made de Ligt a first team regular as they made it to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. 

He has been capped by the Netherlands 45 times and would be seen as the ideal partner for Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the Man United back line. 

Centre-half is a position that lacks depth for the Red Devils, with Jonny Evans and Casemiro often filling in when players were injured last season, so the potential arrival of de Ligt will be welcomed with open arms at Old Trafford.

If all goes well for Man United, the pair could make their Premier League debut in the season opener against Fulham on August 16.