Manchester United are setting their sights on bolstering their defense ahead of the upcoming transfer window. At the forefront of their target list is Jean Clair-Todibo, with the club having already made attempts to secure his transfer during the January window.
Communication channels with the French player remain open, indicating ongoing interest from the Premier League outfit. In addition to Todibo, the name of Matthijs de Ligt has emerged as a potential defensive reinforcement.
De Ligt, highly regarded by his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, is being considered as a significant addition to Manchester United’s backline. Other options being explored include Antonio Silva and Sinaly Diomande, both of whom could potentially strengthen the club’s central defense.
De Ligt is a right-footed centre-back who can play in a back three or a back four. He has excellent positioning, anticipation, and reading of the game. He can also initiate attacks with his passing, dribbling, or long balls. He is a threat from set-pieces, scoring 21 goals in his club career so far
Some of De Ligt’s strengths are:
- He is very strong in the air, winning 3.4 aerial duels per game in the Bundesliga this season
- He is very composed and confident on the ball, completing 91.4% of his passes in the league
- He is very aggressive and assertive in his defending, making 2.1 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, and 3.8 clearances per game
- He is very mature and influential for his age, captaining Ajax, Juventus, and the Netherlands at various points of his career
Some of his weaknesses are:
- He can sometimes be caught out of position or lose concentration, leading to mistakes or penalties
- He can sometimes be too rash or reckless with his challenges, earning 10 yellow cards and one red card in his club career
- He can sometimes struggle against pacey or tricky forwards, especially in one-on-one situations