Barcelona will reportedly consider signing disgruntled Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt from Bundesliga club Bayern Munich next year.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Matthijs de Ligt is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Dutchman is unsettled at Bayern Munich after losing his spot as a regular for the Bundesliga club. But Barcelona might have to break the bank to sign him in 2024.
Matthijs de Ligt has arguably failed to fulfil his immense potential thus far after the highs at Ajax. The 24-year-old was the Dutch club’s captain despite still being in his teens, with pundits hailing him as the next big thing. But he had a hit-and-miss stint with Juventus before joining Bayern Munich last year in a deal worth €77 million.
The Netherlands international was a regular for Bayern Munich last season and became a pivotal figure for the Bundesliga champions. But de Ligt’s fortunes have changed for the worse under Thomas Tuchel. And he has managed only 127 minutes of game time thus far, starting two of the eight games played by Bayern.
Recent reports have claimed that Tuchel does not rate de Ligt highly, unsettling the Dutchman at the Allianz Arena. So, it is hardly surprising that a move away from the Bundesliga club might be on the cards. And Barcelona will look to prise him away from Bayern Munich next year.
The former Ajax captain has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time. The Blaugrana wanted to sign him four years ago when they landed Frenkie de Jong from Ajax. But a move failed to materialise, and he moved to Juventus. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s renewed interest in the player is hardly surprising.
Recent reports have linked Andreas Christensen with a move away from Barcelona. In addition, Marcos Alonso is a bit-part player, while Inigo Martinez will only be a short-term solution. So, it behoves Barcelona to invest in a centre-back who can be a long-term solution at the back. But while de Ligt is a viable target, the Catalan giants might not be able to afford him.
The 24-year-old still has over three years left on his contract at Bayern Munich. So the Bundesliga champions will likely demand a premium to part ways with de Ligt, even though they might not recoup €77 million. So, it will be interesting to see if Barcelona can afford to secure his services.
