Manchester City and Chelsea are reportedly interested in the services of Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt.
According to Calciomercato, Juventus are bracing themselves for a raid from Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea, for the services of Matthijs de Ligt. The highly-rated defender is facing an uncertain future at the Serie A club amid the Bianconeri‘s recent struggles in the league and in Europe.
Matthijs de Ligt’s current contract in Turin expires in 2024. But it is apparent that his club is not only underperforming but is also facing financial constraints. Relieving the 22-year-old Dutchman from their wage bill, in that regard, could go a long way in helping the Serie A giants recover from this mess, though the board has not shown any indication of cashing in on their prized defensive asset.
Nevertheless, the defender’s notorious agent Mino Raiola is trying to find a new suitor for his client and had offered the youngster to Barcelona and Chelsea recently.
Barcelona’s economic situation effectively rules them out of contention. But in Chelsea, de Ligt could find himself an interesting suitor, which has enjoyed significant success this year, including the triumph in the UEFA Champions League last term.
The Blues have improved considerably under Thomas Tuchel. And most importantly, they will be able to afford the 22-year-old with regular game-time, as the Juventus star will likely be considered as a direct replacement for Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid lately.
Things could get a bit more complicated at Manchester City, who already boast the services of some of the highly-rated defenders in Europe, including Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte. The two have been ever-present in the club’s backline in the new season while Nathan Ake and John Stones are not bad options by any means.
Although Stones has been linked with a shock January move to Newcastle United, it is apparent that de Ligt will have to fight hard to gain a place in the Manchester City team. As such, it won’t be surprising to see the former Ajax starlet opt for a move to Chelsea, where he can reunite with former teammate Hakim Ziyech.
However, given his status as arguably the best young defender in world football, Matthijs de Ligt is set to cost a fortune for either of these teams next summer, perhaps even crossing the €100 million mark, making the 22-year-old the most expensive defender in world football.