Real Madrid will reportedly provide stiff competition to Liverpool and Manchester City in the race to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus this summer.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato.it, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City are keen on signing Matthijs de Ligt in the summer transfer window. The Dutch international could leave Juventus ahead of the 2022/23 season amid a standoff over the terms of a new contract.
Matthijs de Ligt joined Juventus from Ajax in July 2019 and has since made gradual progress in his career. While he remains one of the most highly-rated defenders in Europe, the 22-year-old has had to bide his time to usurp Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at the Allianz Stadium.
The Dutch international has turned out 117 times for Juventus while chipping in with eight goals and three assists. But the Serie A giants are in a spot of bother over de Ligt’s long-term future as he is yet to commit to a new contract and has been outspoken about his future. Such a situation has captured the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City.
The interest from Real Madrid is surprising, considering Antonio Rudiger has joined them in a Bosman move this summer. Rudiger’s arrival seems to have bolstered Carlo Ancelotti’s central defensive options sufficiently, so it is unclear why Real Madrid might want to pursue de Ligt.
As for Liverpool, the Reds might not need to invest in a centre-back this summer either unless Joe Gomez departs from Anfield. With Joel Matip approaching the final phase of his career, Gomez’s exit could force Liverpool’s hand, making de Ligt a viable target in such a scenario.
Meanwhile, Manchester City might have to enter the market for a centre-back as Nathan Ake has popped up on the radar of Newcastle United. In addition, Aymeric Laporte is a target for Juventus following Chiellini’s departure as a free agent. So de Ligt is an option worth considering for Manchester City.
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Recent reports have claimed that the 22-year-old is open to joining Liverpool or Manchester City. But Real Madrid’s emergence could change things, and it will be interesting to see which club de Ligt opts for if he leaves Juventus. As things stand, the likelihood of de Ligt’s departure is high, as the Serie A giants want to hand him a new contract with reduced wages.