Five clubs that could sign Matthijs de Ligt

The Dutch defender is in very high demand and could move to a new league.

Juventus FC could lose their centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the ongoing transfer window. There is a lot of competition for his signature amongst elite European clubs. The former Ajax skipper is one of the most talented centre-backs in Europe and will be a sensational signing for any team. Bayern Munich and Chelsea FC are the front runners in the race for the player.

However, there are other clubs that could move in for the 23-year-old. Reports from Italy are also suggesting that Juventus are already preparing for life after Matthijs de Ligt. They have identified Kalidou Koulibaly as the ideal replacement for the Dutch international. It remains to be seen which club will come out on top and successfully sign the talented defender.

He is a world-class defender who will grow further with more experience. At only 23 years old, De Ligt has exhibited leadership qualities at Ajax and worked hard with the Old Lady in the Italian Serie A. As the race for his signature heats up, here is a look at five clubs that could sign Matthijs de Ligt:

Manchester United

Manchester United are in the process of rebuilding their squad under new manager Erik ten Hag. His arrival at the club and the multiple departures suggest a start of a new era at the club. As of this moment, there are several players on the club’s wish list who could arrive in the Premier League. One of the significant areas where the red devils need recruitment is in defence.

They are working towards signing Lisandro Martinez from Ajax at the moment. The Red Devils have also submitted a bid for Antony, Martinez’s teammate at the Dutch outfit. In a situation where Ajax decides to sell only Antony, then MUFC could turn to Matthijs de Ligt and reunite the defender with his former boss, Erik ten Hag.

Manchester City

Manchester City could be one of the destinations for Matthijs de Ligt. The Citizens have a strong squad and are always looking to add even more quality to their side. Pep Guardiola would welcome the opportunity to work with the defender who will certainly increase the competition for one of the starting lineup slots in the team.

The Premier League champions made a huge statement by signing Erling Haaland and could end the transfer window with another head-turner of a transfer. Pep Guardiola is desperate to win the UEFA Champions League with MCFC and the club is one of the few in world football that can easily afford the asking price for Matthijs de Ligt.

Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain is one of the clubs that are in the market for a new defender. Milan Skriniar of Inter Milan is one of the players that the outfit is pursuing. However, there is a gap in the valuation of the player between Inter and PSG. There is no agreement between the clubs, which is stalling the deal.

The Parisians are likely to sell Presnel Kimpembe and sign a replacement, one for the future. Sergio Ramos’ injury record is worrying and Marquinhos needs a reliable partner in defence. Matthijs de Ligt ticks all the boxes and PSG could turn to him if the deal for Skriniar does not materialise.

FC Bayern Munich

FC Bayern Munich are not hiding their interest in bringing Matthijs de Ligt to the German Bundesliga. The Bavarians will have no obstacles in agreeing to personal terms with the defender, but agreeing on a deal with Juventus is proving to be a steep task. Historically, FCB is not a club that pays exorbitant transfer fees for players in the market.

Bayern Munich is unwilling to meet Juventus’ asking price for the defender. The clubs are in discussion to find a middle ground for the time being. However, this gives other clubs time and the opportunity to hijack the deal. 

Chelsea FC

Chelsea FC is one of the front runners to sign Matthijs de Ligt in the transfer window. Since the departure of players like Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, the club is looking toward signing a high-profile centre-back. Where Bayern Munich is failing, Chelsea is succeeding and vice versa.

There are positive signs that Chelsea and Juventus could agree to the transfer fee for the player. However, convincing him to join the Blues could be an issue since De Ligt prefers a move to the Bundesliga. It will be interesting to see which club eventually wins the race for the highly-rated defender. 

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