Liverpool legend calls Manchester United-bound Matthijs de Ligt a 'light-weight centre-half' ahead of impending move

Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness has termed Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt - widely reported to be joining Manchester United - a 'light-weight centre-half'.

De Ligt, 25, was regarded as one of the promising young centre-backs in the game when he first emerged at Ajax. Following subsequent spells at Juventus (2019-22) and the next two seasons at Bayern, the Dutchman has struggled to live up to that tag, with a patchy injury record not helping him.

David Orsntein of The Athletic (via GOAL) has reported United's double swoop of De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in a €70 million deal. However, Souness is apparently not convinced of the Bayern defender's defensive quality as he said on a talkSPORT podcast (via Jack Fawcett):

"When I look at De Ligt, a light-weight centre-half, can play. But can he do the things you want from a centre-half - first and foremost - defend - that seems to have gone out the game. Keep the ball out from the back of the net."

As per Ornstein, De Ligt's deal is worth €45 million, with €5 million in add-ons. He's set to sign a five-year deal with an option of another year after completing his medical.

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How Manchester United target Matthijs de Ligt fared for Bayern Munich and Juventus?

Matthijs de Ligt

Manchester United target Matthijs de Ligt has made 73 appearances across competitions for his current side Bayern Munich, contributing five goals and two assists.

That includes two goals and an assist in 30 games last season - starting 23 - last season as Bayern endured a first trophyless campaign in 12 years. The Bavarians saw their 11-year Bundesliga stranglehold ended by Bayer Leverkusen, who became the first unbeaten winners of the German top flight.

Bayern also lost the German Super Cup, were eliminated early in the DFB-Pokal and lost to eventual winners Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Ligt, though, had a late equaliser controversially ruled out, which would have forced extra time.

In his first season at the club, the 25-year-old won the Bundesliga and the German Super Cup.

After leading Ajax to within a whisker of a place in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions final, De Ligt moved to Serie A giants Juventus that summer. The Manchester United target bagged eight goals and three assists in 117 games across competitions in three seasons, winning the Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup, before joing Bayern.