Graeme Souness gives his brutal assessment of 'LIGHTWEIGHT' defender Matthijs de Ligt - as Bayern star prepares for £43m reunion with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

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Graeme Souness has given a damning verdict on incoming Manchester United centre back Matthijs de Ligt as he prepares to sign for Erik ten Hag's side. 

The former Ajax captain previously worked with his soon-to-be manager at the Dutch club before his departure for Juventus in 2019, and Ten Hag has been keen to link up with the defender for some time. 

De Ligt was pictured at Munich Airport on Monday with fellow signing-in-waiting - and ex-Ajax man - Noussair Mazraoui, with Man United swooping for both Bayern Munich stars as part of Ten Hag's defensive overhaul. 

The 25-year-old is expected to arrival on a deal worth £43million which sees the Red Devils pay close to £38m upfront and a further £5m in add-ons. 

But Souness was critical about Ten Hag's desire for the player as news broke of his arrival in Manchester, offering a brutal assessment of De Ligt's all-around defensive skills. 

Graeme Souness is decidedly unimpressed by incoming Man United defender Matthijs de Ligt

The Bayern Munich star was pictured at the airport in Germany on Monday ahead of the move

The pundit (right) was adamant that the Dutchman is far from the answer to United's problems

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Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui enjoy dinner at Manchester restaurant ahead of £56m move

'I'm doubtful about De Ligt,' Souness shared on talkSPORT. 'He didn't get into the national team during the Euros, he was a squad member.

'He's been at two enormous football clubs, they normally don't like to sell players. That in itself tells a story.'

Referencing his explosive early years with Ajax, culminating in a profile-raising Champions League season in 2018-19, Souness admitted that 'he was a star when he was a boy' but argued: 'Has he progressed since then?' 

'I'm not sure he is what Man United need at this time,' the former Liverpool player added. 

'Jonny Evans played 23 times for Man United, they desperately need a centre-half.

Among other aspects of his game and career, Souness highlighted De Ligt's skimpy showing for the Dutch national team

Erik ten Hag (left) previously worked with the player during his spell at Ajax (pictured in 2018)

The Dutch manager was at the helm for his compatriot's blistering 2018-19 season in Europe

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'I look at De Ligt, he's a lightweight centre-half. What you want from a centre-half first and foremost is to defend.'

Man United are desperate to improve upon their defensive showing for the 2023-24 season, which saw the injury-struck side unable to settle on a consistent centre back pairing. 

But Souness was staunch is his belief that the club's prayers were unlikely to be solved by Ten Hag's compatriot. 

'It would appear that some coaches and managers think it’s all about playing out from the back,' he continued. 

'Keep the ball out the back of the net. It’s the same with the goalkeeper. Is he any better than the Spanish boy (David de Gea) they allowed to walk out the door?

Also pictured at Munich Airport was fellow Bayern star Noussair Mazraoui (pictured centre)

The pair are set to arrive in Manchester in a double deal agreed between the top-flight sides

'He wasn’t good with his feet but kept the ball out the back of his net better than (Andre) Onana.'

De Ligt struggled to settle at Juventus and eventually left the Turinese club for Germany in 2022. 

During his tenure in Munich, De Ligt recaptured his some of earlier form, but struggled for the first-half of the 2023-24 season with a persistent knee injury. 

The Netherlands international is set to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months. 

Bayern also accepted a £17m bid from United for full back Mazraoui, a proposal of worth an initial £13m plus £4m in bonuses. 

In the wake of last season's injury crisis, Man United were forced to rely on a revolving door of centre backs (Jonny Evans pictured centre)

Role assured at Old Trafford after a tense post-season spell, Ten Hag is keen to bolster ranks

United fans will hope that De Ligt can recapture his form of old and - crucially - stay injury free

The duo share the same agent with Rafaela Pimenta representing them since the death of Mino Raiola in 2022. 

De Ligt and Mazraoui will join Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee in arriving at the club this summer, taking United's spending past £150m.

But United fans will be unable to see the former player in competitive action for some time, after the former Ligue 1 defender broke his foot during Man United's pre-season tour in the United States.  

Yoro is expected to be out for up to three months.