Matthijs De Ligt (£38.6m +£4.3m) – 7/10
Matthijs de Ligt was once considered the next big thing.
Unfortunately for the player, his performances have been inconsistent in recent years.
While his aerial dominance and physicality make him a solid presence at the back, he has some limitations.
De Ligt may struggle in a high defensive line due to his turning circle and lack of agility, leaving him vulnerable in fast transitions.
He shares these issues with Harry Maguire and is best suited as a central centre-back in possession flanked by faster, more agile players who can cover space – something United’s current setup doesn’t fully provide.
Despite these concerns, de Ligt’s qualities still make him a valuable asset.
Although his transfer came at a reasonable price given his experience and pedigree, there’s an argument that the money could have been better spent elsewhere – perhaps on a more versatile defender like Trevor Chalobah, who can cover both full-back and midfield roles.
The hope is that de Ligt can rediscover the form that once made him a top prospect and evolve into a more complete centre-back under his former manager Erik ten Hag’s guidance.
However, the question remains whether he can truly return to his best and if United could have allocated the funds more effectively.
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