Bayern Munich and Juventus did not come to terms after their first direct meeting to discuss Matthijs De Ligt. However, the negotiation between the two clubs will continue. They will try to reach an agreement before July 20th, when the Bianconeri will leave for the United States for a series of friendly.
According to Calciomercato and multiple sources, the German powerhouse offered €60M plus €10 add-ons for the Dutchman. Instead, the Old Lady requested at least €80M as a fixed fee and about €90/100M including the bonuses. The parties are fairly distant but will keep in touch.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri addressed the matter during a presser (via SportMediaset).
“De Ligt is a Juventus player for now. He is training normally. The transfer market is open until August 31st, and so anything can happen. The club would be ready to replace him properly if he left.”
The Bianconeri have most definitively missed out on their top target Kalidou Koulibaly, who is inching closer to a move to Chelsea. His transfer to Turin would have been complex anyway. As per Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus have shortlisted Arsenal’s Gabriel, Torino’s Bremer, Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile and Villarreal’s Pau Torres to potentially substitute De Ligt.
The 22-year-old center-back has two years on his contract. The Serie A club tried to prolong it to lock him down, but he rejected the proposal. He has a €120M release clause, and his entourage asked to lower it in the extension talks.
Our Take on Juventus and De Ligt
It is fair for the Bianconeri to demand a haul considering his insane potential. Whether they will indeed get it is a different matter, as they do not have a ton of leverage. Torres would be a terrific fallback, arguably the best one among those linked so far.