-Ikenna Okafor
Chelsea will now go head-to-head with Bayern Munich for Juventus wantaway, Matthijs de Ligt. As per reports: both potential suitors have opened talks with offers below the Old Lady’s liking.
Matthijs de Ligt’s time in Italy seems to have run its course with a move wanted by both him and Juventus; the latter wanting it sorted out as soon as possible. They too want to find their de Ligt replacement and get their preseason underway with all their summer additions at the Allianz Stadium as early as can be.
Thomas Tuchel has handed in a long list of defender targets to his recruiting team at Stamford Bridge and at the top of that list is said to be Matthijs de Ligt. The Blues have made sure the work done this summer starts at the back and they fill the yawning holes left by duo Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
As the Blues name de Ligt as a primary target, they’re also offering around €70m + €10m in added-on bonuses. This is apparently the same total the Bundesliga champions are willing to offer, but in a different structure to that of Chelsea’s.
Both, sadly, is not what Juventus are looking for and want no deal that involves a player plus cash exchange. The West London club is not short of funds and the German giants drive a hard bargain; Matthijs de Ligt is still anybody’s signing due to this.
Chelsea, Bayern in De Ligt battle