In a recent report, Corriere dello Sport claimed that Chelsea are leading the race for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt this summer. It is believed that the Blues are ahead of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City in the chase to land the Dutch centre-back during this summer transfer window.
De Ligt’s Decent Campaign In Italian Football
De Ligt was a prominent presence at the heart of Juve’s defence last season as he managed to put in a series of solid displays over the past ten months. The 22-year-old made 42 appearances for the Italian side in the previous campaign, netting three goals and grabbing one assist on all fronts.
The Dutch sensation kept things tidy at the back by averaging 1.1 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 3.1 clearances per 90 minutes in Serie A. He was even accurate with his ball distribution after completing 88.9% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Will De Ligt Add To Chelsea Boss Thomas Tuchel’s Side?
De Ligt can get stuck in with some solid tackles to make life tough for the opposition attackers. He can spot the danger quickly and usually times his challenges well to secure the ball back on the defensive end of the pitch.
The Dutch talent doesn’t hesitate to put his foot through the ball when required and is proficient at playing his way out from the back.
At the moment, Chelsea can definitely benefit from recruiting someone of de Ligt’s skillset after they lost Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer this summer. The Dutchman could serve as a good replacement for the German centre-back and might even go on to form a dominant defensive partnership with Thiago Silva at Stamford Bridge next season.
We can expect de Ligt to add more bite and steel to Thomas Tuchel‘s defence. Plus, he could even help the Blues compete for even more trophies in the coming seasons. Therefore, the West London giants should focus on getting a deal done for de Ligt before the start of the new campaign.
