Paul Scholes reveals 'massive concern' over Man Utd's capture of Matthijs de Ligt as he labels Bayern Munich & Netherlands star a 'second-rate defender'

United are reportedly close to finalizing a move for De Ligt, with the transfer fee believed to be around €45 million (£38m/$49m) plus an additional €5 million (£4m/$5m) in potential add-ons. The Dutch defender, currently 25 years old, has already built an impressive resume, having played for top European clubs such as Ajax, Juventus, and Bayern Munich. Despite his accolades, Scholes remains unconvinced that De Ligt is the right fit for Manchester United.

Scholes, known for his straightforward opinions, did not hold back in his critique of De Ligt and during a recent discussion on The Overlap Fan Debate, hosted by Sky Bet said: "With Man Utd, we’re talking about players who can’t get into their team. He’s [De Ligt] not playing for them [Bayern], that has to be a big concern, especially when Eric Dier is playing in front of him. That is a massive concern for me."

Rising through the ranks at Ajax, he quickly became a standout player, even earning the captain's armband at the tender age of 19 under the guidance of current Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. His performances in Amsterdam caught the attention of Juventus, where he made a high-profile move. Following his stint in Italy, De Ligt transferred to Bayern Munich, further solidifying his reputation as one of Europe’s top young defenders.

However, Scholes is concerned that De Ligt's performances at Juventus and Bayern have not lived up to expectations and cautioned against signing players based solely on their past performances under Ten Hag. “You’re bringing in players for £40m, £50m just because he’s played for him [Ten Hag] two or three years ago,” Scholes remarked.

"Juventus got rid of him, he wasn’t good enough there and he obviously hasn’t been good enough at Bayern Munich. He’s coming to us almost like a second-rate defender."

Despite Scholes' reservations, it is undeniable that United require reinforcements in their defensive line. The club has seen the departure of key defenders Raphael Varane and Willy Kambwala, while injuries have plagued the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. The arrival of De Ligt, alongside another potential signing, Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, could help bolster United’s defensive options. The duo’s arrival would add to a growing list of players who have previously thrived under Ten Hag’s leadership, including Lisandro Martinez, Andre Onana, and Antony.