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Liverpool are reportedly in for Juventus’ Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt.
What’s the word?
That’s according to Italian publication Calciomercato, who claim that plans over a renewal of his contract at Juventus are stalling.
The 22-year-old wants his release clause reduced significantly, but the Italian club are not willing to budge.
This has piqued Jurgen Klopp and Julian Ward’s interest this summer, as he and Chelsea are noted as interest parties.
A Dutch defence in Liverpool
De Ligt and Van Dijk would be an unstoppable duo for Liverpool, and we know this because they are already unstoppable for a far worse Netherlands team.
Having signed for Juventus in a £67.5m deal back in 2019, the £63m-rated monster struggled at first but has found his feet in recent seasons.
His average SofaScore rating this season of 7.07 is indicative of this upturn in form, as he has been a consistently impressive performer for an otherwise underperforming side.
One legendary Dutch defender, Frank De Boer, expects big things from the young man who is still just 22. Speaking to Tuttosport (via Il Bianconero), he said:
“Matthijs, however, is playing a lot and always at excellent and intense levels.
“Italy is famous for its defence and De Ligt is doing very well playing with central players of the calibre of Bonucci and Chiellini. Both are helping him a lot on and off the pitch.
“Matthijs has everything to become one [a captain of Juventus]. He is a born leader and has a great personality, not surprisingly when he was just 18 he was captain of another historic club like Ajax.”
Acting as slightly more of a brute due to his physicality, he could perfectly partner with the ever-classy Virgil van Dijk at the heart of a frightening Premier League defence.
His 3.57 aerials won per 90, and an 89.5% pass completion rate further solidifies this statement.
Ronald Koeman, when he was manager of the two, dubbed them “the best central defenders (in Europe)”.
The two already share a good rapport, and with experience at international level together, perhaps bringing De Ligt to Anfield could be the missing piece that would help Liverpool in pipping Manchester City to the title.
In other news, Liverpool now closing in on perfect TAA competition, he has a “massive future”.
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