3 reasons why Matthijs de Ligt should sign for Manchester United

#2 United are crying out for a centre-back

De Ligt's statistics suggest he'd be a better bet for United than Chris Smalling

Jose Mourinho might be long gone from Old Trafford now, but his summer row with chief executive Edward Woodward still reverberates around United when it comes to the Red Devils’ defence.

For those who have forgotten, Mourinho was demanding that United sign at least one new centre-back, while Woodward argued that the current personnel – Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones – were more than competent.

Unfortunately, despite United’s improved form under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it appears that Mourinho has been proven right. The Red Devils have conceded 40 goals in their 30 league matches thus far – the most of the top 6 and more than 7th placed Wolves. A new centre-back is clearly required, but is de Ligt the right man?

Well, a comparison between de Ligt and United’s most used defenders – Smalling and Lindelof – looks favourable. De Ligt has a better pass success rate than either player – in fact, his passing statistics are superior in every sense – and while he doesn’t average as many blocks or clearances as Smalling, that could be due to the weaker competition he faces in the Eredivisie.

He does, however, average more successful interceptions than both – suggesting he’s overall a more cultured defender.

If he were to join United, therefore, de Ligt would instantly become a key man for Solskjaer’s Red Devils, and assuming he’d be able to keep up his Ajax form at Old Trafford, he’d probably develop into an instant cult hero with the fans too – ala his fellow Dutch defender Jaap Stam.

United is the one destination where he’d instantly be invaluable – and that’s why he should go there.