On Thursday, we covered multiple claims from Italy that said Chelsea’s interest in Matthijs de Ligt is ‘almost public’ and Juventus will need an important offer to part ways with him.
The defender’s deal expires in 2024 and the Serie A side are working to extend it, by including a lower release clause [from €120m to €70-80m] and a reduced salary.
La Repubblica state the question around the 22-year-old’s future ‘agitates’ the Old Lady. His sale this summer can help them earn money, while it will also end up weakening their defence.
Rafaela Pimenta, the centre-back’s agent, has held talks with the Old Lady’s leaders, to discuss his situation. At the moment, the renewal talks have stalled.
It’s said Pimenta has a few proposals from the Premier League, and the ‘most concrete’ one has come from Chelsea.
Having seen both Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen leave the west London club as free agents, the Blues will have to strengthen their centre-back position this summer.
This is where the Netherlands international fits in, and Chelsea would be ‘willing to ‘invest’ around €70m for his signature.
De Ligt has a €120m release clause and this could make him non-transferable. He wants this to be lowered to around €70m [in the new deal].
Should Chelsea make a €70m bid, it remains to be seen whether Juve will consider this offer to sanction De Ligt’s sale this summer.
Juventus chief Maurizio Arrivabene wants to hurry up things with De Ligt, and with the possible arrival of Ángel Di María on a free transfer. The Argentine asked for a few days to make a decision. The Turin club’s ‘patience is running out’.
