Transfer News: Chelsea face competition from Liverpool for Matthijs De Ligt
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Liverpool Echo), Chelsea could face competition from Liverpool in their bid to sign highly-rated Juventus centre-back Matthijs De Ligt.
The Dutch centre-back has been linked with a move away from the club and Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be locked in a battle to convince the 22-year-old to join them from Juventus. The former Ajax Amsterdam man joined Juventus in 2019 and has gone on to establish himself as a regular in the Old Lady backline.
The talented defender has made 41 appearances for the Italian behemoths this season and has scored three goals and one assist during this time. He has slowly yet surely consolidated his spot with the Bianconeri and could be set for a larger role following Giorgio Chiellini’s exit.
(Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
While the Bianconeri are said to be keen on extending their star defender’s deal and handing him a better contract, interest from European giants like Liverpool and Chelsea could tempt De Ligt to make a move elsewhere. After all, Juventus are not the force they once were.
Expensive signing?
After a rough start to life in Turin, De Ligt has well and truly settled in Turin. He is finally showing what made the Italian club go big on him back in 2019. While there have been some drawbacks, de Ligt’s stay at the Allianz Stadium has been largely fruitful.
We have a pickle on our hands when it comes to our centre-back situation. Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are more or less certain to leave the club while Cesar Azpilicueta also is said to be reconsidering his future at Stamford Bridge next season.
This will leave Chelsea with just Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva as the senior choice centre-backs at the club. The Blues will undoubtedly have to reinvest in the transfer market to bring in new central defenders who can compensate for the quality going out the door.
However, signing de Ligt will not be a cheap signing by any means and are unlikely to let him move on the cheap. It remains to be seen if the Blues are willing to shell out that kind of cash to sign the Dutchman.
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It’s still not evident if the Netherlands international will leave Turin. If he decides to though, he will definitely not be short of suitors and Chelsea are probably just one of them.
