Transfer News: Chelsea suffer blow as Mino Raiola contacts Manchester City to open talks for Juventus ace Matthijs de Ligt
According to Calciomercato (h/t The Express), Mino Raiola has opened talks with Manchester City over a potential transfer for Juventus ace Matthijs de Ligt amidst interest from Chelsea.
The Blues are well aware of the contractual situations at their club, and reinforcements might be necessary soon. Antonio Rudiger is in the final year of his contract, and there is no guarantee whether he will stay at Stamford Bridge beyond this season.
Similarly, Thiago Silva is said to be considering retirement and might be spending his last season in professional football this term. The sale of Kurt Zouma, Marc Guehi, and Fikayo Tomori over the last year have not done the club any favours although they did churn out sizeable money for the trio.
However, they were considering the possibility of bringing in Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus as he has been one of the best young centre-backs in world football recently.
Matthijs de Ligt prefers Man City over Chelsea?
While they were eyeing a deal, it is now thought that the 22-year-old player’s agent, Mino Raiola, is in talks with rivals Manchester City instead. Regardless, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is unconcerned about this situation as he does not believe that any club can pay the number stated in the Dutch international’s release clause i.e. €150million.
Moreover, the Blues might apparently consider making a move for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde before they eye a deal for the former Ajax man. Kounde was on the club’s transfer list this summer, but a change of valuation by the Spanish club led to the player staying at the La Liga outfit.
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The Frenchman’s release clause is said to be £68.5million, and the London club might be far more comfortable paying this figure than the one stated in De Ligt’s contract.
Thus, there are several factors to be considered but Chelsea will have to act fast if they are to bring a centre-back to the fold next summer.
