The future destination of Matthijs De Ligt remains continues to dominate football headlines in Serie A – as the marquee signing in Italy this summer.
The Dutch defender has been courted by the defending Serie A champions, as well as La Liga winners FC Barcelona, Manchesyer United and French superpower Paris Saint-Germain.
However reports in Italy, and in De Ligt’s native Netherlands, have virtually confirmed his intention to head to Turin before the start for the 20192-20 campaign.
The arrival of Maurizio Sarri has been greeted with some level of scepticism by Juventus fans – as despite his successes with Napoli – he never broke Juve’s dominance, and endured an inconsistent season with Chelsea in 2018-19.
Sarri needs to make an impression on his new fans, not just with performances on the pitch, but with a demonstration that they are ready to compete with their European rivals in the transfer market.
Juventus need to seal the deal for Sarri’s sake, to demonstrate their support for him, and a belief in his way of operating – something that was rarely the case at Stamford Bridge.
The Bianconeri also need to secure De Ligt’s signature to retain their status as the kings of defence across Europe.
Giorgini Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have built a reputation a reputation as the most consistent centre back partnership in club football across the continent – ignoring Bonucci’s brief hiatus at AC Milan.
The retirement of Andrea Barzagli at the end of the season, and Stefan Lichtsteiner to Arsenal in 2018, showed that the defensive wall of Turin is starting to be broken up.
Despite Chiellini and Bonucci appearing that they can go on forever, the former will turn 35 at the start of the season, with his contract up at the end of 2019-20.
Bonucci, at 32, has a contract up until 2023, but it not certain that he will see that out if his performances wane in the coming months.
Former boss Max Allegri utilised Daniele Rugani more last season, as the first step to easing out the pair, but despite a solid start, he is not the big name that De Ligt is.
At just 19, De Ligt has captained Ajax to the domestic double, and a Champions league semi final in 2018-19, and he looks set to become the dominant defender in world football for years to come.
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