Barcelona and Chelsea are reportedly among the clubs who have been offered the chance to sign Matthijs de Ligt next summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Mino Raiola is unhappy with Matthijs de Ligt’s situation at Juventus and is keen on engineering a move for the 22-year-old in next summer’s transfer window. To that end, Barcelona and Chelsea are among the clubs to have been offered the chance to sign him.
Matthijs de Ligt joined Juventus from Ajax in the summer of 2019. Widely regarded as one of the best young defenders to this day, the Dutch international has made gradual progress at the Allianz Stadium after experiencing teething problems at the club initially.
However, the 22-year-old, who has amassed 83 appearances while chipping in with six goals and two assists so far for the Serie A heavyweights, is now a first-choice option at the club and is content with his situation. However, his agent, the notorious Mino Raiola, is unhappy with how he has been “treated” and is looking to engineer a summer move, with Barcelona and Chelsea offered his services to that end.
Barcelona hold a long-standing interest in de Ligt, having attempted to sign him two years ago before he eventually joined Juventus. The interest has not waned since, and the Blaugrana remain keen on signing the youngster for good reason.
With Gerard Pique in the twilight of his career in addition to Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti being surplus to requirements, it goes without saying that Barcelona can do with a centre-back, making de Ligt a viable target. Chelsea, on the other hand, could be eyeing the 22-year-old owing to Antonio Rudiger’s contract situation.
The Blues are indeed in a precarious situation over the future of the German international, who is in the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, although Barcelona have also shown some interest lately. And with Thiago Silva in the final years of his career, de Ligt certainly comes off as an option worth considering.
To that end, it has been suggested Chelsea could prioritise a move for de Ligt, although Manchester City have also been offered his services. What now remains to be seen is if any of Barcelona, City or Chelsea can swoop the Dutchman away from Juventus or if he stays put at the Serie A club.