Jaap Stam Urges Man United To Sign De Ligt

By Joshua Walters

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam wants the club to sign Matthijs De Ligt as he believes the centre-back is a 'good fit' for them.

De Ligt has had a glowing season with Ajax and that has attracted admiring glances from top European clubs.

The Netherlands centre-back has been linked with a move to Barcelona who have already signed his teammate Frenkie de Jong.

But reports are that, Manchester United are keen on securing the player’s services and Stam, who was part of United’s 1999 treble season is confident De Ligt will be a 'good fit' for the side.

“He’s a great player,” Stam told Press Association Sport. “He’s only a youngster as everybody knows. But in how he plays, he’s an adult, to be honest.

“He’s got composure on the ball, he’s aggressive tactically, he sees the game, he reads the game well and he’s got that driving force for himself as well in what you need to achieve and where you want to go to.

“I think that’s one of the most important thing for a player to have – to have goals for yourself, that you want to make steps, that you want to improve yourself, that you want to go the highest level.

“I think he would suit very well over here if they’re trying to pick him up and I am not sure if that’s the truth, of course, because a lot of things have been said and have been written as well.

“But he is a player that absolutely fits in here, but it is up to him as well.

“He’s the type of player that a manager I think wants to work with.”