Juventus edge close to De Ligt signature

It was obvious that when Matthijs de Ligt has reportedly crept close to the Paris Saint-Germain move, it wasn’t over at all. While it was the very reliable Gianluca di Marzio who said it, he has now come up with a news that proves that the inevitable has happened.

Juventus are now close to agreeing terms with Mino Raiola about the signature of the Dutchman and are already discussing a fee with Ajax that could see the defender come to the Turin based side this summer. The fee in question is 60 to 70 million euros.

And while it seemed obvious that the saga wasn’t over as soon as PSG came close to signing him, Juventus would be a very good move for the player. Not as good as PSG would have been, but a move that won’t do him too much harm.

One assumption that comes with teams spending so much on a player is that he will be an undoubted first choice. He would have been one at PSG, but there is a little doubt about it at Juventus.

Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are the best defenders in the world on their day and have won Juve many matches in the UEFA Champions League in the past. While this past season wasn’t the best for them, but the retirement of Andrea Barzagli is something that can benefit De Ligt.

Maurizio Sarri would prefer to play the 4-3-3 formation and that always has defenders who can play the ball out from the back. Chiellini and Bonucci do like to play out from the back but De Ligt is better on the ball than both of them. But due to De Ligt being a right centre-back, he can effectively play alongside Chiellini in the position he likes.

Bonucci isn’t the defender he was two seasons ago and De Ligt can learn a lot from him and Chiellini. That is one big advantage.

But that leaves the other defenders in a tricky situation. Juventus signed Merih Demiral from Sassuolo this summer and the former Sporting Lisbon man is an upgrade on Daniele Rugani. But Sarri’s liking for Rugani is undoubted. The Italian helped Rugani a lot during their time together at Empoli and the defender learnt many things under Sarri. It can very well be said that being coached by Sarri went a long way in shaping Rugani into the player that he currently is.

But the season that Rugani had this past campaign shows that he isn’t an upgrade on Demiral- who impressed throughout his Serie A stint at Sassuolo. But reports indicate that Rugani will be preferred by Sarri over Demiral.

Whatever happens, De Ligt’s situation would be secured as a regular starter. It would reek of unplanned business but with the window yet to be closed, Juventus could well loan Demiral out this summer.

There will be decisions to make and there will be problems, but De Ligt won’t be one. He would star for any top club in Europe on his day.