.A key focus of the club's recruitment drive this summer has centred on the backline, where De Ligt operates, with himself and Leny Yoro joining an already impressive roster of Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans.
That doesn't worry the Dutchman, however, who sees competition as an imperative both for rotating through a hectic schedule and driving each other on in training.
"You can't do it with 11 players," the former Bayern man said. "You need, actually, almost a minimum of like two good players in every position.
"Then it's about competition, and I think this competition makes everybody else a bigger player because you need to show every day that you are the best at your position, that you can help the team.