De Ligt to Man Utd SLAMMED: Latest Ten Hag transfer a 'sign of weakness'

Willem Leijgraf

• Updated: 1 Jul 2024 16:21 BST
• 4 min read

Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen believes that Matthijs de Ligt's upcoming transfer to Manchester United is 'a sign of weakness' from Erik ten Hag.

The 54-year-old coach is poised to bring a former Ajax pupil of his to Old Trafford for the fourth time with the Dutch international. He previously did the same thing in Amsterdam with the signing of Quincy Promes, among others.

Man Utd are working on the arrival of De Ligt. De Telegraaf reported the news on Monday morning that the English top club had submitted a contract proposal to the 24-year-old central defender until 2029.

READ MORE: Exclusive - Man Utd and Arsenal send scouts to watch over Turkey gem

Negotiations with Bayern Munich over the transfer fee for one of the world's most expensive defenders have officially begun, with Fabrizio Romano and Sky Germany also confirming the reporting. It is expected that the green light will be given shortly.

Ten Hag's transfers slammed

The possible transfer of De Ligt to Man Utd is, of course, a hotly debated topic in the player's native Netherlands and it was recently discussed on De Telegraaf's Kick-Off podcast.

"I don't foresee any problems with that," said journalist Mike Verweij with regard to the negotiations between player and club. "De Ligt should be able to work it out. He probably also wants to leave Bayern Munich because the prospects [of playing] there are somewhat smaller."

READ MORE: How Man Utd would line-up with Matthijs de Ligt

"De Ligt has had a great six months, but they would rather sell him," chief writer Valentijn Driessen added. "Of course, it says a lot that he didn't make it in Munich and the same applies to his time at Juventus."

"Now at Man Utd, hopefully we get to see the old De Ligt there. I think it's good for him, but I think it is a sign of weakness on Ten Hag's part." Driessen then states that it is evidence that the Dutch coach has little regard for the rest of the market or is bad at assessing it.

"He now keeps coming back to boys he has worked with," after which the signing of Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Antony is also mentioned. "And he also wants Frenkie de Jong. He keeps falling back on that successful year."

However, Verweij then stands up for Ten Hag. "Just like [Louis] Van Gaal, he is of the 'total person principle' and if he has worked with someone...Ten Hag is just very like: if I know someone, can trust someone and he can play football well, then I will bring him to my club."