Manchester United have ended their pursuit of Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, according to multiple reports in the UK.

The Dutchman has reportedly been the subject of a £70m offer from the Red Devils in recent days, but the Manchester club believe the defender has his heart firmly set on joining another club.

De Ligt is said to want to join Barcelona, and despite United reportedly being prepared to pay bigger wages, it appears the Catalan club have won the race for the 19-year-old.

The Netherlands international has also been linked with the likes of Juventus, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal but Barca have always been the favourites for his signature.

Friend and teammate Frenkie de Jong has already agreed a move to Camp Nou, and the pair look likely to link up once again in Spain.

United are set to move on to other centre-back targets with Leicester’s Harry Maguire being tipped as one of the alternatives.