Talks of Dutch international Matthijs de Ligt leaving Juventus this summer are intensifying, with a move to the Premier League looking like a real possibility. Chelsea are in the market for additional centre-halves following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, with the latter's departure potentially holding the key to a move for De Ligt.
De Ligt has worn the number four shirt throughout his career, firstly with Ajax where he captained the Amsterdam outfit to a Champions League semi-final and now with Juventus. That shirt number will be vacant at the Blues following the departure of Christensen, and could be a key factor in persuading the 22-year-old to join the club.
Manchester United are also believed to be in the hunt to sign the defender, with Erik ten Hag having worked closely with De Ligt during his time at Ajax and are thought to be Chelsea's main rivals for the signature. However, Chelsea's status as a Champions League side could swing the deal in their favour.
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One piece of bad news for the Blues could be the fact that Manchester United look like they could part ways with Phil Jones, which would leave the number four shirt vacant at Old Trafford and providing ten Hag with a potential bargaining chip in the pursuit of de Ligt.
De Ligt has also praised ten Hag's management, saying in a recent interview: "He has a lot of qualities (to succeed). We will have to see how he goes.
"He definitely improves players. He wants to do everything to make his team play better."
Juventus reportedly would like to extend his deal for another two years on top of his existing contract which expires in 2026, but Corriere dello Sport report that the Dutchman's representatives are unhappy with the Serie A club's insistence on a £98m release clause being inserted into the new deal.
He is thought to prefer a lower clause in the region of £68 million in order to keep his options open but it remains to be seen whether a deal will be sought or a move to the Premier League will materialise.
