According to Calciomercato, as cited by Tuttojuve, Chelsea are in the market for Matthijs de Ligt. They have reportedly tabled an offer of around €60 million along with Timo Werner in a player plus cash deal. Werner is believed to be valued at around €45 million, with the offer exceeding the €100 million mark. Juventus, though, are yet to respond to the bid.
Matthijs de Ligt’s Spell At Juventus So Far
Matthijs de Ligt is considered as one of the best defenders in Europe and is also one of the most expensive ones, having joined Juventus for a fee of €85 million in 2019. Since then, the youngster has notched up 75 competitive appearances for the club, emerging as a rock at the back, particularly from his second season in Italy.
The Dutchman has indeed built a solid defensive partnership alongside Leonardo Bonucci. It was critical in helping the Bianconeri make a late push for the top four places, even though missing out on the Serie A title was quite disappointing.
Nevertheless, de Ligt is regarded highly for his imposing presence at the back, coupled with his ability to read the game. He is quite quick on the turf, allowing him to make important interceptions, thus effectively neutralising potential counter-attacking opportunities for the opposition.
Standing at 1.89m, the former Ajax prodigy is also a strong aerial presence. It invariably makes him a threat from set-pieces, with the defender notably scoring four goals in his first season at Juventus.
Should Chelsea Splash The Cash On De Ligt?
Matthijs de Ligt is certainly a significant upgrade from the current crop of defenders Chelsea are pursuing at the moment. Unlike most other young centre-backs, the Dutchman has a certain composure and calmness about his game that makes him an ideal candidate to replace Thiago Silva in the long term.
In addition, the 21-year-old is quite proficient with the ball at his feet. It should potentially make him an ideal cog in Chelsea’s build-up play, which is an essential element in Thomas Tuchel’s tactical setup.
De Ligt’s strong presence and aerial dominance add further gloss to his already impressive CV, with the defender also bringing in loads of experience despite his tender age. He can, therefore, prove to be a massive coup for the Blues in their bid to add more quality in the defensive unit next season.
However, splashing more than €100 million for the Juventus prodigy might not be a prudent move from Chelsea, especially given the fact that their immediate priority is to sign a proper goalscorer this summer.
