Manchester United eyeing a move for Dutch defensive gem: A chance for Ed Woodward to redeem himself

Manchester United have received a huge boost in their pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt, it has been claimed.

FC Barcelona were tipped as the favourites to sign the Ajax sensation in the summer. But, the club’s vice president, Jordi Mestre has denied reports that claimed the Catalans were on the verge of capturing the defensive stalwart – as reported by Manchester Evening News.

This has served as a huge boost for Manchester United, who are one of many clubs interested in the services of de Ligt in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Matthijs de Ligt: Ed Woodward needs to pull off something special

Manchester United are in dire need of defensive reinforcements in the summer despite boasting the services of least five bonafide centre-backs.

But, among them, Eric Bailly has appeared inconsistent while both Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have struggled with injuries. Rojo, in particular, has featured in only five league games this season and is likely to leave Old Trafford in the summer.

Swedish centre-back Victor Lindelof has been the only reliable option in central defence for Solskjaer, thus accentuating the need for a new face in the defensive department.

de Ligt could, thus, be an exciting option for Manchester United given his quality as a ball-playing defender. The Dutch international has attained a pass completion rate of 89%, which is quite impressive for a player of his age.

The 19-year-old is adept at providing the long diagonal balls which is crucial nowadays for any defender. He also has excellent composure on the ball, which explains why he rarely loses possession, even under tight pressure.

This could be a boon for United, whose inefficiency and lack of composure in their build-up play has seen them struggle against quality oppositions this season.

Defensively, de Ligt is known for his excellent anticipation, which allows him to cut out passing lanes and make important interceptions. He has averaged over one interception while a tally of over four clearances per game is indicative of his dogged defensive nature.

However, the young defender understandably lacks experience at the highest level of football and at the age of 19, it could be difficult for him to make the transition to English football and most importantly, live up to United’s soaring expectations especially in a period which many might call tumultuous for the club.

In addition, the Red Devils will also have to dig deep in their pockets to sign de Ligt, who is already regarded as one of Europe’s best centre-backs. While transfer fees are not historically something which would stop United from going after players, the apparent plan to undergo a massive squad overhaul might cripple them in their quest to go all out after de Ligt.

But considering the flak and arguably justified criticism the man behind the transfers, Ed Woodward, has been facing for United’s current predicament, pulling off this signing will go a long way in repairing his image and repaying the massive trust and responsibility given to him at the biggest club in the world.

Stats Courtesy: Whoscored