Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt has reportedly told a Chelsea supporter whilst on holiday that he does 'not know' what his future holds amid strong transfer rumours whilst a move for Serie A Kalidou Koulibaly has been rated as 'very likely.'
The Blues' defensive re-shuffle is really starting to take some shape. The Telegraph have reported that the current world champions have made progress in negotiations for the Juventus' No 4 as a cash-plus-player swap deal remains on the table. £60million plus one of either Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner or Jorginho is likely to be enough to close this transfer for a player who is a dream target of Tuchel, who initially looked like getting Jules Kounde handed his way by the club before Marina Granovskaia left the club.
Although the Sevilla defender could still be signed this summer, alternatives are certainly being considered with the German keen on Man City's Nathan Ake. City though are wanting to secure a replacement and a healthy windfall from the sale of the former Bournemouth defender before they give this one the go-ahead alongside the Raheem Sterling move which is reportedly a 'done deal.'
READ MORE: Matthijs de Ligt to Chelsea 'close' as Juventus identify Thomas Tuchel favourite to replace him
Whether both De Ligt and Ake will be signed together this summer is a distinct possibility but it's also realistic to believe that there could be problems down the line in negotiations for both, in spite of the positive start to these talks with each player.
Alternatives are therefore being considered by the powers to be with PSG-bound Milan Skriniar, Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and Thomas Tuchel favourite Presenel Kimpembe three players who could all be on the move this summer for the right place.
Edouard Mendy's international compatriot is reportedly looking for a new challenge elsewhere after a highly successful eight years in the Southern Italian club. Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is not giving up the ghost yet with contract negotiations still on the agenda for a player whose agent has been in London for Chelsea talks.
“We are waiting to understand what can happen with Koulibaly, as the president, Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to sell him, but asks for €40m (£36m) and knows that it is difficult to find a buyer willing to go that high in terms of price tag,” Italian Journalist Raffaele Auriemma told Radio Marte, relayed by Area Napoli. “Juventus want to give it to him, this money; the president is willing to give him to Juve, but he can’t do it; he could only do so if Koulibaly publicly said he wanted to go.
“Kalidou, however, won’t do it, because he knows that he would end up in the same trap as Dries Mertens. Napoli matures the idea of losing him to zero, if an offer does not arrive from outside. It is very likely that Chelsea will come and get him, because the Blues’ alternatives cost too much: I am referring to Skriniar and De Ligt, who have even higher valuations.”
Will a move to Stamford Bridge come to fruition this time around for the 31-year-old? Perhaps but if de Ligt does move to the Premier League, the chances of seeing the Senegalese join him in SW6 are very slim.
And by his own admission, all options are still on the table as the Dutchmen dropped a seven-word bombshell on holiday to a Chelsea supporter who had approached him in Greece.
"I do not know, we will see!," he cryptically told the fan.
Chelsea fans- If you could only sign one of Kalidou Koulibaly or Matthijs de Ligt, who would you pick and why? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments section!
