Report: Chelsea have now asked how much club want for their ‘excellent’ centre-back, looking to sign him

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Reports are suggesting Chelsea have enquired into the possibility of signing Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt this summer.

According to Football London, the Blues have reached out to Juventus to see where they stand on the Dutchman’s price for a transfer this summer.

The 22-year-old was dominant for Ajax as he captained the side to a Champions League semi-final appearance in 2019, earning him a £68m move to Juventus.

While the Netherlands international hasn’t quite lived up to the mammoth expectations placed on him, he still attracts praise from pundits and colleagues alike.

His national team partner Virgil van Dijk described him as ‘excellent’ and being just 22 he has more than a decade of dominance left in him.

This is obviously an intriguing prospect for Thomas Tuchel, who Football London suggest is a massive advocate of De Ligt due to his versatility and ability on the ball.

They also claim the Blues have held talks with Juventus regarding a potential transfer fee for the Dutchman, enquiring as to a required price for the transfer to go through.

The Blues’ interest in defenders has been well documented, with Jules Kounde being mentioned as the favourite up until now.

However, reports suggest Barcelona are ready to hijack the deal for the Frenchman, potentially pushing the Blues towards a move for De Ligt instead.

Chelsea’s interest in the former Ajax’s man has been widely reported in recent days, with Tuchel’s side seemingly keeping a close eye on him, and the latest news that they have actually been in contact may excite some at Stamford Bridge.

It is not yet know whether Juventus presented a price to Chelsea that they approved of, but it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see a bid come in, given the widespread nature of the reports of late.

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The Blues are in desperate need for a centre-back this summer, and will still be pushing for the Kounde deal to get over the line, even if it’s just for the off-the-field reputation reasons.

If de Ligt stays at Juventus this summer, the club should make their intentions known early for the next possible opportunity, with his contract getting closer and closer to being up. The Dutchman has the potential to build a defence around for a decade, following perfectly in Thiago Silva’s footsteps.