Juventus have reportedly joined the race to sign sought-after Lille centre-back Sven Botman in the midst of Matthijs de Ligt’s uncertain future in Turin. According to TUTTOmercatoWEB, Juve have identified the Dutch prodigy as an ideal long-term replacement for the ex-Ajax man, who could be on his way out in the summer.
Several top European clubs, including Barcelona, have laid their eyes on Mino Raiola’s client De Ligt. Known for shifting his clients from one team to another, Raiola is understood to be already working around the clock to secure the 22-year-old a high-profile switch in the upcoming summer transfer window.
De Ligt’s potential departure from the Allianz Stadium would leave a sizeable void in Juventus’ backline. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are well in the autumn of their playing careers, while Daniele Rugani has never fulfiled his potential in Turin.
Therefore, the record-time Serie A champions are keen on finding a replacement for the Dutch defender. And Juventus have already named Botman as the perfect candidate to replace his compatriot should De Ligt end up leaving Italy in the summer.
Botman has drawn plenty of interest from some of Europe’s most prominent clubs. In addition to Manchester United and Liverpool, Juventus’ fierce domestic rivals Milan are also in the mix. However, the Rossoneri are lagging behind the competition due to the club’s poor financial status.
In the meantime, De Ligt’s departure would inject a substantial amount of money into Juventus’ coffers, enabling them to pursue high-cost deals. And they plan to use a portion of it to land Botman, who has enjoyed a couple of stellar seasons at Lille.
The 22-year-old carries a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents. He has established himself as a permanent first-team fixture at Les Dogues, helping Christophe Galtier’s side pip Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title last season.