When Man United are hoping to finalise the signings of Matthijs De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, contracts agreed

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that Manchester United are closing in on the additions of Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs De Ligt.

After Manchester United made the decision to stick with Erik ten Hag, rather than dismissing the Dutchman. The former Ajax boss had set his transfer demands for the club and progress has been made.

A new striker is understood to be one of the club’s top priorities this summer and United, alongside Ten Hag, settled on Joshua Zirkzee and a deal is now close.

As for the centre-back role, after failing with two bids for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, sources have told HITC that they are also closing in on Matthijs De Ligt.

United reach double agreement for De Ligt and Zirkzee

Sources have told HITC that United have reached a double agreement on contracts with Zirkzee and De Ligt with five-year-deals in place for the Dutch pair.

As HITC revealed last week, United wanted both players for medicals this week and now Holland are out of Euro 2024, after losing 2-1 to England in the semi-final, there is a chance that could happen over this weekend.

The signing of Bologna’s Zirkzee is understood to be the furthest along out of the two with United just needing to pay his £34 million release clause to get the deal over the line, which the Red Devils are understood to be planning on doing.

As for De Ligt, sources have told HITC that talks are ongoing with Bayern Munich but that deal is more complicated given that the Bavarian club and the Dutch defender need to reach an agreement over his departure given that he has three years remaining on his deal.

HITC has been told, however, that talks between Bayern and De Ligt are progressing well for his exit from the club.

United’s plan to finalise double deal

HITC has been told that talks are progressing to the point that both players should sign within the next seven days to ten days.

Another centre-back, on top of De Ligt, could be a possibility with HITC reporting that United have had an offer accepted for Lille’s Leny Yoro but the teenager’s preference remains Real Madrid.

But with deals close for De Ligt and Zirkzee, HITC understands Ten Hag has spoken at length with both players in the last few weeks and is gearing up to welcome both to the club.