Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke is 100% better than Manchester United’s Mathijs de Ligt.
That’s according to journalist Valentijn Driessen, via Soccer News, who believes the Brighton man is leagues ahead of the Manchester United defender at this moment in time.
Van Hecke has been enjoying a steady rise in the last few years, establishing himself as a first-team regular at Brighton over the last year after spending previous years out on loan.
He has also now made his debut for the Netherlands, playing 45 minutes in 2-2 draw with Germany at the start of last month.
That appearance came as a half-time replacement for De Ligt, who has had something of a mixed start to life in the Premier League.
Driessen was busy watching him in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday and was left feeling that Van Hecke is much better, after also watching Brighton’s defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.
“Liverpool were really outplayed in the first half,” he said.
“Brighton played really great. That Van Hecke… When you see him in the build-up, how calm he remains… He did almost everything right.
“Yes, 100% (he’s better than De Ligt). On the ball anyway. He doesn’t need any fouls; he doesn’t do really stupid things. I thought Matthijs de Ligt was a lot better yesterday against Chelsea than in the previous matches, but he did make a huge mistake just before the end.
“Literally. He slipped, which almost put Chelsea at 1-2. But for the rest he held his own quite well. But I really liked Van Hecke, yes.”
