Chelsea transfer blow as Matthijs de Ligt makes shock U-turn with Juventus defender keen on £69m Bayern Munich move

BAYERN MUNICH are reportedly set to pip Chelsea to the signing of Matthijs de Ligt with the Juventus ace keen to join the Bavarian outfit. The Dutch defender has been heavily linked with a Turin exit this summer after admitting he may reject a new contract offer from the Old Lady. De Ligt still has two years […]

BAYERN MUNICH are reportedly set to pip Chelsea to the signing of Matthijs de Ligt with the Juventus ace keen to join the Bavarian outfit.

The Dutch defender has been heavily linked with a Turin exit this summer after admitting he may reject a new contract offer from the Old Lady.

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De Ligt still has two years left to run on his deal at the Allianz Stadium, but he has allegedly told the club he intends to leave after putting in a transfer request.

Chelsea are known to be admirers of the 22-year-old as Thomas Tuchel looks to bolster his defence having seen Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen depart as free agents.

The Blues are claimed to have had a £34m offer plus either Timo Werner or Christian Pulisic turned down by the Serie A outfit.

But a possible move to the Premier League appears to be off as Bayern eye up a deal.

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According to Sky Sport reporter Florian Plettenberg, De Ligt has his eyes set on a switch to the Allianz Arena following talks with the club’s boss Julian Nagelsmann and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

Though he stressed that Juve could seek as much as £69million in order to part ways with the player.

He tweeted: “Bayern wants him & De Ligt wants to join Bayern! Talks with Nagelsmann & Salihamidzic impressed him!

“Negotiations between Bayern/Juve have started. Talks are good.

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“But he‘s very expensive. Transfer fee expected between €60m [£51.6m]-€80m[£69m].

Should he link up with Bayern, De Ligt would be reunited with former Ajax team-mates Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui who joined earlier in the window.

Juventus chief Maurizio Arrivabene recently hinted how the Italian side may have to sell De Ligt.

He said: “It’s impossible to keep players when they want to leave the club.

“But all the three parties in the negotiations have to be satisfied.”