Barcelona will reportedly make a surprise swoop for Matthijs de Ligt in the January transfer window if they offload Philippe Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti.
According to a report from journalist Gerard Romero, Barcelona are considering a shock swoop for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt next month if they are able to get rid of Philippe Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti.
De Ligt has been with Juventus since 2019 when he arrived from AFC Ajax after a sensational 2018/19 campaign. Throughout his time in Italy, the Netherlands international has been sharing game-time with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. With the club going through a lean phase and his place in the side fixed, the 22-year-old is believed to have grown frustrated and could be open to an exit.
Barcelona have now been credited with an interest in the ex-Ajax captain. The Catalans have been admirers of de Ligt’s talents for years and were interested in signing him before his move to Juventus. They have continued to keep tabs on the Dutchman’s development, but their financial situation has made the possibility of signing him a very distant one.
As things stand, Barcelona already have Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Oscar Mingueza as options in the central defensive department. Among them, Pique is in the final stage of this career, while Umtiti is out of favour at the club and is expected to be offloaded.
Lenglet, too, could be shown the doors should a good offer come along, meaning that the Blaugrana could make do with the addition of another top-quality centre-half like de Ligt. However, as iterated earlier, the financial problems would make it hard for the club to pull off a deal in January.
The report from Romero adds that Barcelona would attempt to launch a move for the Dutchman only if they were able to get rid of Umtiti and Coutinho. Both players are unwanted at Camp Nou and are two of the highest earners at the club. Selling them would generate some funds and clear up huge space on the wage bill, making it easier for the club to register new stars.
Barcelona are already closing in on the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City. Another big-money move in the same transfer window looks extremely unlikely. So, it is highly improbable that the Blaugrana will be signing de Ligt come the January transfer window.
