Manchester City have been asked to include Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko in the deal to sign Matthijs de Ligt.
Matthijs de Ligt wants to quit Juventus this summer. It has been confirmed by club CEO Maurizio Arrivabene, suggesting the defender is looking for a change of air ahead of the new season. Although Juventus are determined not to lose their star defender, the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea are doubling down on the pursuit, reports Calciomercatoweb.
Chelsea have already submitted a proposal which was swiftly rejected by Juventus. But things get a bit more interesting as far as Manchester City are concerned. It appears the English champions have offered Juve the opportunity to sign Ilkay Gundogan as part of the player plus cash deal to sign de Ligt.
The Bianconeri are drawn to the idea as they are in the market for reinforcements in the midfield department this summer. Massimiliano Allegri has been already boosted by the return of prodigal son Paul Pogba, but he wants one more star midfielder, in light of Adrien Rabiot’s uncertain future in Turin.
Allegri considers Gundogan to be an excellent option as the German international has the pedigree of performing at the highest level of football. He can not only bring experience to the table but also a winning mentality. His partnership with Pogba in the middle of the park could go a long way in helping Juventus compete for the Serie A title next season.
However, in addition to adding Gundogan in the swap deal, Juventus want Manchester City to add Oleksandr Zinchenko. It is hardly a surprise either as the Bianconeri are in the market for a new left-back, especially amid speculations over the future of Luca Pellegrini, who has been linked with a move to West Ham.
Juventus value Zinchenko and Gundogan at around €50-60 million. They are willing to discount the amount in de Ligt’s valuation, meaning Man City will only have to pay €40-50 million if they agree to include both the players in the deal.
The operation appears to be favourable for both parties involved. Gundogan will be turning 32 in a few months. He is in the final year of his contract with the Cityzens and may soon be replaced by Kalvin Phillips whereas Zinchenko has largely been a backup player for Pep Guardiola. Therefore, the opportunity to sign de Ligt for just €40-50 million could be too good to turn down.
However, the English champions must be aware of the interest from Chelsea. It is no secret Juventus will favour a cash-only deal, and given the fact that the Blues are yet to spend big on a player, it won’t be surprising to see Thomas Tuchel convincing the new owners to spend a fortune on de Ligt, as part of his massive overhaul in the defensive unit.
