Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Graeme Bailey has been discussing Matthijs De Ligt’s future amid ongoing links to Chelsea and Liverpool.
The Dutch defender is not happy at Juventus. The Serie A giants have finished in fourth two seasons in a row, and they won’t give De Ligt what he wants in his new contract.
The defender has now reportedly requested a transfer, and while Liverpool are on alert, Bailey is led to believe that Chelsea are the firm favourites for his signature this summer.
What’s been said?
Bailey spoke about De Ligt’s future.
“As it stands, Chelsea aren’t willing to do it (pay his release clause), Chelsea are trying to offer players. We assumed Todd Boehly would be doing some wheeling and dealing, and he’s living up to it at the minute. De Ligt, it seems as though Chelsea are firm favourites for him at the moment if he leaves. If they’re willing to do a €100m deal, Chelsea have a great chance of getting him,” Bailey said.
Painful
Losing any transfer target is painful, but losing a player to the team that finished directly below you last season has to sting.
Liverpool were reportedly dreaming of pairing De Ligt with Virgil van Dijk at the back next season, but it seems as though he may be headed to Stamford Bridge instead.
Of course, with Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez in the squad, Liverpool shouldn’t be affected too badly by this near-miss, but the fact that De Ligt could be joining Chelsea does make this one that much worse.
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