Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly ahead of Bayern Munich in the race to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt.
According to Goal, Chelsea are still ahead in the transfer race for Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, with Bayern Munich registering interest in the Dutchman as well. Strengthening the central defensive department is high on the Blues’ priority list, and they are currently been linked with a host of players.
Sevilla’s Jules Kounde has been targeted for the longest time, with the Blues making a summer move for him last year. Chelsea have retained their interest and returned for him this summer, only for the transfer saga to drag on for longer than they would have wanted.
Chelsea have thus focused their attention on other options, and de Ligt has emerged as a potential summer signing. The Blues are having to fend off interest from the German giants but continue to be in the lead for the Dutchman’s signature.
Juventus are holding out for a €120 million transfer fee for the 22-year-old defender, who joined the Serie A giants in the 2019 summer transfer window. However, they are aware that potential suitors could be put off by their asking price and could thus be convinced to sell de Ligt for a fee of around €80 million.
With just two years remaining on his contract with the Serie A giants, talks of renewal have not progressed smoothly, and a summer move looks on the cards. Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene recently hinted that de Ligt ‘wants to leave the club’ and holding on to such players is ‘impossible’.
Arrivabene said, “Today, keeping a player who wants to leave is impossible. It’s not always about the money and if one wants to go, you don’t just tell him: ok, go ahead. It’s hard to keep a player, but all those sitting at the table of negotiations must be satisfied. Who has the money wins.”
Chelsea are also in talks to sign PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe, while former player Nathan Ake, who currently plies his trade for Manchester City, has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge as well. Ake is said to be keen on re-joining Chelsea.
With Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger leaving Chelsea, the Blues will likely need to sign two centre-backs this summer. But the west Londoners need to move quickly and efficiently amid looming threat from Bayern Munich, who will look to replace Niklas Sule with de Ligt this summer.
