Matthijs De Ligt is expected to lead the Juventus backline going forward, especially since Giorgio Chiellini announced his retirement and Leonardo Bonucci is in the latter stages of his career, as his contract expires in the summer of 2024.
However, there is no dearth of suitors for the highly-rated 22-year-old Ajax youth product, with almost all the top Premier League clubs eyeing him. According to the latest Tuttomercatoweb reports, the transfer race is heating up between Liverpool and Chelsea. The latter are desperate for defensive reinforcements, having parted ways with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Juventus plan to offer De Ligt an extension with a pay rise in order to secure him for an extended period of time. The Bianconeri want him to continue at the club, but they have a further player in mind to succeed Chiellini, with experience the main factor in their decision-making process, and none other than Napoli stopper Kalidou Koulibaly matches that description.
Matthijs de Ligt has a release clause into his contract with Juventus [around €150m]. But it’s gonna be valid only starting from July 2022, as Erling Haaland clause with Borussia Dortmund. Juventus want to keep de Ligt this summer, he’s considered as key player. ??? #Juventus
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2021
Nevertheless, they want offer a contract extension until 2026 to De Ligt, who in turn expects his termination clause lowered to €80M, from the current value of €150M that will become active next month in July.
Manchester United, along with El Clasico foes Real Madrid and Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain are all said to be keeping close tabs. All top clubs, except perhaps Barca, are well-positioned to activate the asking price, but the word from Continassa is strong regarding the intention to keep the defender put. The Dutchman has capped 117 times for La Vecchia Signora since making his Italian debut in July 2019.