Paul Scholes has a theory behind Erik ten Hag's relationship with one Man Utd player

Paul Scholes has a theory behind Erik ten Hag’s relationship with one Manchester United player.

United continued their underwhelming start to the Premier League campaign with a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

And in the wake of the encounter, United legend Scholes claimed Ten Hag was chomping at the bit to replace Harry Maguire with Matthijs de Ligt.

Maguire’s long-term future has been the subject of speculation over the past two years, with the England defender often the subject of criticism from fans and pundits.

Maguire’s struggles in part prompted Ten Hag to complete the £43million signing of De Ligt this summer. And Scholes claimed that the Dutchman’s immediate inclusion in the United starting XI is a telltale sign that Ten Hag has long considered replacing Maguire.

During the Overlap Fan Debate Scholes said: “He couldn’t wait to get de Ligt straight in ahead of Maguire, he was just waiting for the opportunity."

However, Scholes admitted he was not yet convinced that De Ligt deserved an immediate place in United’s defence.

The 49-year-old continued: "And look, in all honestly, I’m not sure it is that much of an upgrade.

"He might be slightly better but he is not a massive improvement where you think, 'Wow.'

“Manuel Ugarte was announced on the pitch for the Liverpool game. And then he went away with Uruguay.

"And with the South Americans, they don’t come back until a Friday sometimes and then they played at 12:30pm on a Saturday at Southampton.

“[Erik] ten Hag’s a bit like that with his new players, he seems to take a little bit of time to bring them in.

De Ligt played under Ten Hag at Ajax (Getty)

"[Matthijs] de Ligt was the same. The only one who has come straight in is [Noussair] Mazraoui.”

Scholes has been criticised on social media for his opinion of De Ligt.

Prominent United fan Mark Goldbridge said on X: "That Scholes comment that De Ligt isn't an upgrade on Maguire is horrific....

“7 years younger, half the price, double the speed, allows us to play out from the back and higher up the pitch. Yeah not much of an upgrade..."

Another wrote: “It’s getting a bit sad how Paul Scholes throws random damaging reviews so publicly about Manchester United.

“Like De Ligt being ‘sub for Dier’ at Bayern to discredit him for no reason, and now this? So we’re not allowed to rotate anymore?”

A third said: “Scholes was an incredible player but you just know he’d be an awful manager.”