Manchester United's defensive woes continued this weekend as they shipped two goals to lowly Southampton in a 2-2 draw.

The Red Devils are looking nowhere near the standard of a club who should be competing at the top end of the Premier League table like their fans expect, and January is expected to be a busy time of the Old Trafford club.

Manager Jose Mourinho is desperate for some new additions to add to his ranks, and in particular he will be looking for new defenders after his failed attempts to land a new central defensive star in the summer.

And one man we here at the Tavern think United have to sign is current Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt, who has been in superb form over the last 18 months as he develops a reputation as one of the best young defenders on the planet.

Valued at some £50m by Transfermarkt, and still just a tender 19-years-old, de Ligt looks to have all the qualities to turn himself into one of the world's finest defenders given the chance to develop further at one of the best clubs in the world.

Already a full and regular international for the Netherlands, de Ligt will only continue to improve, and he would vastly improve a United defence which has looked shaky to say the very least this term.

Full of potential and a class act in the making, we think de Ligt would represent a superb piece of business for the Old Trafford club.

United fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know!