Louis Saha raises Matthijs de Ligt concerns for Man United – and Rio Ferdinand agrees
Matthijs de Ligt looks set to join Man United from Bayern Munich, but the Dutch defender has been called into question by Red Devils legends Louis Saha and Rio Ferdinand
Louis Saha has raised doubts about Manchester United's intent to sign defender Matthijs de Ligt, due to his inconsistent performances post-Ajax.
United are reportedly on the brink of landing de Ligt from Bayern Munich for a fee that could hit the £42million mark, as they look to shore up a defensive line missing the influence of Raphael Varane. Despite his pedigree, Saha is wary about the acquisition, sharing his uncertainties with CSDB: "Matthijs de Ligt is a confident player and a leader in his own right, but he has struggled to maintain his form in the years since leaving Ajax.
"Having said that, I think the Premier League is a good fit for him and it will provide him that extra motivation to get back to his very best. There is also the surprise element of having him come from abroad so strikers might not know how to play against him."
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer news live Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui 'arrive at Carrington'
READ MORE: Man United 'offered' Matthijs de Ligt transfer alternative who wouldn't cost Ineos a penny
Saha isn't alone in his skepticism either, with United legend Rio Ferdinand also expressing reservations about whether de Ligt can truly "make a difference" at Old Trafford. Weighing in on the discourse, Ferdinand questioned: "He's had a lot of injuries, hasn't started many games over the last two or three years and Man United are spending £45-50million on him.
"Is he going to come into Man United and make a difference? I think it's a big ask for him and all eyes are going to be on him. Big pressure, big opportunity for him, but there's a lot of uncertainty I think with this signing because of his previous seasons with two big clubs not going as well as we'd have anticipated."
Defensive dynamo de Ligt emerged through Ajax's esteemed youth system before penning his inaugural professional deal in 2016. With 117 showings for the Dutch giants, Juventus secured his signature in 2019 where he quickly became integral to their defence.
Bayern Munich swept him up in 2022, with de Ligt missing only three Bundesliga matches in the 2022/23 term. Nevertheless, injury woes hindered his impact as he tallied just 22 league appearances due to two ligament injuries over the latest season.
In a twist compounding United's defensive concerns, newly-signed Leny Yoro sustained a foot injury in a pre-season match against Arsenal. The fresh-faced 18-year-old centre-back, whose transfer approached £52million this summer, now faces approximately three months out of action, potentially hastening United's search for additional defensive reinforcements.
De Ligt, along with his Bayern Munich colleague Noussair Mazraoui, is reportedly undergoing a medical at Manchester United today as part of a double deal exceeding £50m. They could be joined by another midfielder, as Erik Ten Hag seeks to find a suitable partner for Kobbie Mainoo. However, any potential deal may hinge on whether Scott McTominay's £30m valuation is met.