Graeme Souness is extremely “doubtful” about one of Manchester United’s most important summer additions.
So far this summer, United’s owners have approved deals for Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee in an effort to assist Erik ten Hag in improving the ailing Red Devils.
Before Friday night’s Premier League opening against Fulham, Ten Hag is expected to add two more players to his roster.
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, both of Bayern Munich, are now in Manchester for medical examinations. Although De Ligt and Mazraoui will strengthen United’s defense, which struggled mightily with injuries the previous year, Souness is “doubtful” that De Ligt will be successful in the Premier League.
Asked whether it was a good sign that Ten Hag was signing another one of his former players in De Ligt, Souness told talkSPORT: ‘He knew what he was going to get from the other players he got from Ajax and I don’t think anyone is jumping up and down and saying how fabulous they’ve been.
‘I’m doubtful about De Ligt, I’m sorry. He didn’t get into the [Dutch] national team at the Euros, he was only a squad player.
‘When you look at his profile, he’s been at two enormous football clubs. Those kind of clubs don’t usually like to sell players, they hold onto their best players. That in itself tells a story.
‘He was a star as a boy but has he progressed since then? I’m not sure if he’s what Manchester United need at this time.
‘They definitely need a centre-half because Jonny Evans played a lot of games, he’s 36. But is De Ligt the one?
‘When I look at him I see a lightweight centre-half. Was there a queue of other teams wanting to buy him? I don’t think there was.’
De Ligt started his career at Ajax before having underwhelming spells at Serie A giants Juventus and Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
The 25-year-old was taken to Germany as part of the Netherlands’ Euros squad but failed to feature as Ronald Koeman’s side reached the semi-finals.
Manchester United targeted De Ligt and French centre-back Yoro after Raphael Varane left Old Trafford at the end of the season.
Young defender Willy Kambwala also left United, joining Spanish side Villarreal, while Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof continue to be linked with summer moves.
Harry Maguire urged to leave Manchester United
Louis Saha, the former Manchester United striker, believes Maguire should look for a new club once De Ligt arrives at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘A fresh start will be the best for Harry Maguire,’ he told csdb.gg.
‘With Harry Maguire, we know his situation and it hasn’t been easy, sometimes a fresh start is what players need and it could be the best for everybody in this situation.
‘He can be important in both boxes but De Ligt can play that role also. 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.’