According to CalcioMercato, Liverpool are keen to sign Matthijs De Ligt from Juventus this summer.
The Italian outlet first reported the Reds’ interest in the centre-back last week, and now, they claim that the Merseyside club are making concrete steps to bring De Ligt to Anfield.
This will be a very exciting signing for the Reds if they can pull it off, and as an added bonus, it would be a real blow for Manchester United and their new manager Erik ten Hag.
Indeed, ten Hag has been linked with a move for the defender, and it’s no secret that the 22-year-old is one of the United manager’s favourite players.
De Ligt was his captain at Ajax, and the United gaffer has tipped the defender to become the very best centre-back in the world in the future.
What’s been said?
Ten Hag spoke to TuttoSport about De Ligt not long after he joined Juventus.
“I always try to follow Matthijs and in general the players I coached. I am very proud of what he has been doing in these first months at Juventus and I am convinced that he will continue to grow from game to game,” Ten Hag said.
“I don’t know if De Ligt is now at 60, 70 or 80 per cent of his potential, but we are talking about one of the best defenders in Europe and I have no doubt that he will soon become number one in the world in the role.”
Future rival
De Ligt may have been one of ten Hag’s most trusted lieutenants at Ajax, but now he could be one of his biggest rivals.
Indeed, a lot has changed since the pair were together in Amsterdam. Ten Hag is now at Manchester United, and it looks like De Ligt could soon be at Liverpool.
Of course, managers and former players becoming rivals is nothing new, as Jurgen Klopp knows himself all too well having lost the Premier League title via two goals from his former Dortmund star Ilkay Gundogan at the weekend.
De Ligt heading to Liverpool would certainly create an interesting extra dynamic between ten Hag and the Reds.
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