Graeme Souness adds his name as one more pundit Man Utd’s new signing will have to prove wrong

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Arriving at Manchester United as a new signing comes with huge pressure and an even bigger media spotlight.

Under the gleaming lights of Old Trafford there is nowhere to hide. Playing at the biggest club in the world can propel players to new heights, but it can just as quickly cause players to crumble.

Unfortunately, in recent years fans have seen the latter more than they’d like, and United legend Gary Neville even branded Old Trafford a “graveyard” for top talent.

But with new ownership comes new beginnings and United’s summer business has been promising.

Deals for Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro add to the exciting core of young talent at the club and the defensive weaknesses have been addressed by a double deal for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

The Bayern Munich duo are set to finalise their moves shortly with both medicals scheduled for Monday.

READ MORE: Mazraoui and De Ligt medicals LIVE Man Utd transfer news, Wan-Bissaka exit, next transfers

Pundits on Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United

Five years on from when United were first in for Matthijs de Ligt, they have finally got their hands on the Dutch defender.

He will reunite with Erik ten Hag after stints at Juventus and Bayern Munich – quite a portfolio for a 25-year-old.

But even before his deal is announced, a growing list of pundits have expressed concern about De Ligt.

READ MORE: Matthijs de Ligt squad number at Man United, he can pick from his two favourites in match made in heaven

Paul Scholes revealed his worries about De Ligt’s injury record and the fact Eric Dier was playing ahead of him in Germany.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has also questioned the deal.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty I think with this signing because of his previous seasons with two big clubs not going as well as we’d have anticipated. I don’t think he’s the answer,” Richards said.

Now, former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness has chipped in and questioned De Ligt’s move.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Souness said “I’m doubtful about De Ligt. Sorry, but he didn’t get into the national team for the Euros, he was a squad member.

“When you look at a player’s profile, he has been at two enormous football clubs. Okay, maybe Juventus are slightly different in the modern game but they normally don’t like to sell their best players. Bayern Munich certainly hold onto the best players.

“That in itself tells a story. He was a star when he was a boy. Has he progressed since then? I’m not sure if he is what Manchester United need at this time.

“When I look at De Ligt, [I see] a lightweight centre-half.”

Matthijs de Ligt must prove critics wrong

De Ligt is stepping into a weak, injury-ravaged United defence fresh from a season where they conceded 58 league goals.

READ MORE: Kieran Maguire reveals Manchester United are about to bank a profit from £50m Solskjaer signing

There are no question marks over whether De Ligt is an upgrade on United’s current options – he will immediately walk into Ten Hag’s starting lineup.

But with so many concerns around his injuries, it’s important that United don’t push their new £43million signing too hard too soon.