Transfer News: Chelsea face competition from Real Madrid for Matthijs de Ligt
According to Calciomercato (h/t Football.London), Spanish giants Real Madrid have joined English Premier League side Chelsea in the race to sign highly-rated Juventus centre back Matthijs de Ligt.
The Dutch international is regarded as one of the best young defenders in the game. He moved to Juventus in 2019 after an excellent spell with Ajax Amsterdam, helping them reach the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League in 2018/19.
Several Blues defenders will be out of contract at the end of the season and the club is looking to reinforce their defence in the upcoming windows. At present, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta are all out of contract in the summer of 2022.
However, talking to The Guardian (h/t Daily Mail), Rudiger has revealed that he is happy at Chelsea as negotiations regarding his future continue to rumble on. The onus is on the club to reach an agreement with the German international.
“About the contract situation, I talk with the club. This is for nobody’s ears. It was how I said it would be after the Euros – there would be talks.”
If no agreement is finalised by January 1, 2022, Rudiger will be free to negotiate with overseas clubs and join them as a free agent next summer. Losing such a player for nothing will undoubtedly put pressure on Chelsea to fill the void left by his potential departure.
In de Ligt, they can land themselves one of the best young defenders on the Continent. The 21-year-old Juventus star’s contract is understood to have a release clause, but it won’t take effect until July 2022.
Threat level Madrid!
Chelsea however faces competition from Real Madrid. Los Blancos are willing to offer two of Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic as part of a deal to sign the Dutchman. Whether the Blues can trump that remains to be seen.
The defender arrived to Juventus from Ajax two years ago after captaining the Dutch champions at just 19. In his first two seasons in Turin, de Ligt cemented himself as a regular starter, despite some initial difficulties upon his arrival. Whether he is keen to continue his stint in Turin or seek a new challenge elsewhere remains to be seen.
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If somehow Chelsea fails to land Netherlands international, Jules Kounde is the other option that could be pursued by the Stamford Bridge outfit. The Frenchman was strongly linked with a move to Chelsea over the summer, but the Blues were priced out of a move.