A former Chelsea target could become available in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea were heavily linked with Matthijs de Ligt back in 2022, with the Evening Standard claiming at the time that Thomas Tuchel wanted him at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues missed out on the central defender, though, after he decided to leave Juventus for Bayern Munich. However, it looks like they could get another opportunity to sign him. According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, De Ligt leaving the Allianz Arena at the end of the season is a possibility.
“One to watch in the next months”, the reporter wrote on X.
Bayern paid Juventus £65.6m (BBC Sport) for De Ligt’s signature.
Photo by Marcel Engelbrecht – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Chelsea should consider making a move for Matthijs de Ligt
Back in October, the reliable Fabrizio Romano claimed that Chelsea would sign a new central defender this year.
With the Blues in the market for a centre-back, then, De Ligt has to be someone they put on their shortlist.
The 24-year-old just ticks so many boxes. He has played for three European giants in Bayern, Juventus and Ajax, is a leader after captaining the last of that trio and is really good in the air. For example, last season, he won 3.1 aerial duels per game in the Bundesliga, which was the highest average in his squad (WhoScored).
Ultimately, De Ligt looks like the perfect centre-half for Chelsea, especially if Thiago Silva goes on to leave the club at the end of the campaign.
The Brazil international’s contract expires in the summer and a player of his quality is going to be hard to replace.
However, if anyone can successfully succeed Silva in Mauricio Pochettino‘s backline, you would certainly back De Ligt to. If Bayern are ready to sell the Dutchman, then Chelsea need to be all over it.
