- 11 hours ago
Man Utd flop could be a SENSATIONAL Van Dijk replacement at Liverpool
Milan Keskin
- 7 Mar 2025 02:30 CST
- 4 min read
Analysis
Matthijs de Ligt will be able to leave Manchester United after just one season, but could the Netherlands centre-back complete a sensational transfer to Liverpool?
With Ruben Amorim on his way out at Old Trafford already, Xavi Hernandez has been eyed up as his replacement. The Barcelona legend is targeting Ronald Araujo as a replacement for De Ligt, who should see Liverpool as his ideal destination.
STATS
Matthijs de Ligt
V (CR)
Man Utd
Matthijs de Ligt
V (CR)
Man Utd
Already, Man Utd and De Ligt have grown tired of one another. He arrived in the summer for €45 million and signed a deal at Old Trafford that runs until June 2029. Although he joined the Red Devils for under his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of around €50m, he quickly came under pressure and is seen as a player signed for the long-departed Erik ten Hag.
De Ligt, 25, has played 35 games for Manchester United to date and has not been able to prevent his club from having the most disastrous season in the club’s modern history. Partly because of this, the board of Manchester United - led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe - has decided that the centre-back can look for a new club.
READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours
De Ligt to… Liverpool!?
Data from SciSports shows that Liverpool is the best club for De Ligt. The right-footed player would fit in perfectly with the style of play at Anfield and therefore fit in with the attacking style of play of Arne Slot. De Ligt is very strong on the ball and has all the ingredients to be valuable in a footballing team.
Putting aside the rivalry between the clubs, Liverpool seems to be the ideal next step for De Ligt in terms of playing style.
Based on playing time and tactics, it is a different story. According to the data, De Ligt would not be certain of a starting place under Slot. This is partly due to the presence of Virgil van Dijk. However, the 33-year-old captain has an expiring contract at Anfield and it is far from certain that he will still be at the club beyond June.
If Van Dijk leaves Liverpool, Slot and his associates would do well to study the possible arrival of De Ligt.
Although Manchester United paid €45m for De Ligt last summer, it is fanciful to think they will be able to recoup that figure, even if the player’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €52.5m.
