The acquisition of Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt has been questioned by Rio Ferdinand, the most recent legend of Manchester United.
The centre-half from Bayern Munich will join United for a reported £38.6 million, with a further £4.3 million. Once Aaron Wan-Bissaka finishes his move to West Ham United, Noussair Mazraoui is poised to travel to Old Trafford in a different transaction.
After bringing Leny Yoro to the team, United will have spent over £100 million on defensive reinforcements this summer. The French star is out for three months after breaking his metatarsal on his second appearance for the team.
While the capture of Yoro was widely hailed as a major coup for the club, de Ligt’s imminent arrival has sparked some concern among former players with Paul Scholes describing the Netherlands international as ‘second-rate’.
Ferdinand has similar fears after de Ligt’s spells at Juventus and Bayern that ‘filled him with disappointment’, fearing success at Old Trafford will be a ‘big ask’.
‘Mazraoui will play right-back because Wan-Bissaka will be sold. I think that’s a good deal all round. I still think [Diogo] Dalot plays ahead of him,’ Ferdinand told Rio Reacts.
‘But with De Ligt… I watched him at Ajax; he was brilliant that year when they got to the semi-final with ten Hag before being beaten by Spurs. He was commanding, everything you wanted in a defender, composed.
‘Then he goes to Juventus, you look at that and think, great move. A defender going to learn from the likes of [Leonardo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini and all them guys. But it just fills me with disappointment with the way his career has gone since then.
‘I think he had 16 starts last season. Lot of injuries, doesn’t start many games in the las two or three years, and Manchester United are spending 45-50 million pounds on him. That’s another two teams who he was a sub for, a backup defender.
‘I think it’s a big ask for him. Big pressure. Big opportunity, but there is a lot of uncertainty over him after his time with Juventus and Bayern Munich.
‘I don’t think he’s the answer. But it’s a great opportunity for him to go in there and be like, “you know what guys, I’m going to rectify my last few seasons and show you the real me.
‘Erik Ten Hag knows him, the character, the person, and I hope he does a good job but I am going to reserve judgement on this one.
‘If Yoro and Martinez are both fit they both start No one else gets a look in. but Yoro is now out for three months. Is de Ligt fit right now to play? Eric Dier was starting in front of him and he was surplus to requirements at Spurs. That tells you a lot. This isn’t a signing that makes me go “wow”. Hopefully ten Hag gets the best out of him.’