Premier League champions Manchester City are the latest club to have expressed their interest in signing Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, according to a report.
The 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Serie A giants in recent months, with Chelsea and Barcelona also understood to be monitoring the defender.
According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, via Fichajes, De Ligt is unhappy with his game time in Turin this season – having featured for 662 minutes across 12 games in all competitions – and he does not feel trusted by current head coach Massimiliano Allegri.
The report adds that Man City are looking to strengthen their backline in the summer of 2022 and have identified De Ligt as a potential target as they are aware of his current situation.
In addition, Pep Guardiola is understood to be considering the departure of Nathan Ake next summer, which would free up a space in his City squad to recruit De Ligt, who the Spaniard admires.
De Ligt has a €150m (£128.4m) release clause in his contract that will become active in July 2022 – similar to the one which Erling Braut Haaland has in his deal at Borussia Dortmund.
It has previously been reported that the Dutchman's agent Mino Raiola has been in contact with City as well as Chelsea and Barcelona to discuss a potential move for his client in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
Oliver Thomas
