'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tim Sherwood has questioned whether Matthijs de Ligt is a good signing for Manchester United by suggesting he's not an upgrade on Harry Maguire. The Dutch defender joined the Red Devils from Bayern Munich in a reported €45 million deal.
Sherwood, the former Tottenham Hotspur coach, has reservations over De Ligt's transfer. He suggested the former Ajax captain isn't an exciting capture when speaking on Sky Sports:
"If I were a United fan I wouldn't be jumping up and down with excitement...When he was a younger player he was a very good prospect but he has gone to a big club and lost his way - he needs to find a rhythm again."
De Ligt, 25, was touted as one of the most promising talents in European football at Ajax. He captained the Eredivisie giants at 19 in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. His development came under Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, with whom he's reunited.
Sherwood added:
"Ten Hag needs to work with him. For that kind of money, you'd expect him to play but there is no guarantee because he has made some big money signings and they have sat on the bench next to him. I'm sure the new hierarchy will say 'we got him for you, you'll need to bed him in'."
Sherwood intriguingly asked whether De Ligt was better than Maguire, who had struggled to win over many throughout his Manchester United career. The former Aston Villa manager insisted Lisandro Martinez was superior to the 45-cap Netherlands international:
"Is he better than Harry Maguire? I am not sure. He certainly isn't better than Martinez."
De Ligt arrives with some what of a point to prove to those who haven't been watching German football. He was a regular starter at the Allianz Arena, including last season, barring injuries. He made 30 appearances across competitions, helping the Bavarians keep nine clean sheets.
"You don't get too much protection" - Paul Merson voiced his concerns with De Ligt at Manchester United
Paul Merson gave his take on De Ligt's arrival at Manchester United, saying he worries that he'll struggle due to a lack of protection. The Arsenal icon alluded to how open Ten Hag's team have tended to be (via the source above):
"If you're playing at the back for Bayern Munich you really should look half decent. That's not happened and he's been sold on, so he's been sold from a team that are dominating football matches and now he's at Man United where when you are a center half you don't get too much protection. They're very open Man United. It will be very interesting."
Ten Hag wasn't helped by constant injury issues to his defense last season, which left the team extremely vulnerable. He was without Martinez and Luke Shaw for most of the campaign. Maguire, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and the now-departed Raphael Varane spent time on the sidelines.
De Ligt knows the Dutch coach well from their time at Ajax, where they played exciting attacking football. The Old Trafford faithful are still awaiting a similar brand of football.
