BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has said that he would keep one Manchester United star at Old Trafford and urged Ruben Amorim to sell another key first-team player.
Ruben Amorim oversaw a tough 2024-25 Premier League campaign at Old Trafford after he replaced Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager last November.
United’s run of form in the season continued to fall apart in the Premier League and the Red Devils limped to a 15th-place finish in the table under Amorim.
The Red Devils suffered their worst finish in Premier League history and United have been left without European football for the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s men also ended the season without any major silverware after United’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Following United’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League last Wednesday, the Red Devils returned to Premier League action for the final time in the season.
United defeated 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday and walked away with all three Premier League points on the final day of the league campaign.
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Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Chris Sutton drops his clear-cut verdict on Man Utd defender Matthijs de Ligt at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim
Matthijs de Ligt arrived at Old Trafford last summer and was reunited with ex-Ajax and Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag after he was signed from Bayern Munich.
United completed a stunning double swoop for both Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in 2024, which was done in a deal that could cost nearly £60m.
De Ligt played under Ten Hag at Ajax and the 25-year-old Dutchman had a relatively solid debut season at Old Trafford, with injuries disrupting his run of form at times.
The former Bayern Munich and Ajax star featured in 42 matches for the Red Devils in the 2024-25 campaign and De Ligt scored twice for United in the season.
Following Ten Hag’s sacking as United manager, De Ligt has continued to play an influential role in the tactical system that Ruben Amorim has deployed at the club.
However, Chris Sutton is not convinced by the Netherlands international and has suggested that he would keep Harry Maguire ahead of De Ligt at Old Trafford.
Speaking in his column for The Daily Mail, the BBC Sport pundit said: “If I had to choose between keeping him or Maguire, it’s a no contest.
“Doesn’t bring what’s required to the back line. Get Rid.”
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What did Chris Sutton say about Harry Maguire at Man Utd amid his scathing Matthijs de Ligt criticism?
Harry Maguire has had a resurgence in form at Old Trafford and re-established himself under Ten Hag before playing a key role again under United boss Amorim.
The 32-year-old former United captain signed a new contract back in January and he has impressed in the three-man backline of Amorim’s system for the Red Devils.
With his desire to see Matthijs de Ligt offloaded from Old Trafford, Sutton insisted that he would “keep” Maguire and sees him as a ‘leader’ for United right now.
“United need leaders and Maguire is one of those,” he said.
“He won’t win the 100 metres, but you need figureheads when the club is a mess. Keep.”
Maguire has made 40 appearances across all competitions for United in the 2024-25 campaign and the England international scored four times and picked up an assist.