According to an article by Sport (relayed by Sport Witness), Juventus are looking to sell defender Matthijs de Ligt due to serious financial issues occurring at the Turin club, and it is reported that Tottenham and Chelsea have ‘launched’ themselves in for the signing.

The Lowdown: Romero a long-term option

Following the departure of defender Toby Alderweireld over the summer to Al-Duhail SC, Tottenham sought to stabilise their centre-back options by bringing in highly-sought after Cristian Romero, who joined in a staggering £42.5 million deal from Italian side Atalanta.

However, the 23-year-old made just 13 appearances for the Lilywhites before sustaining a hamstring injury whilst on international duty with Argentina in November. Before the injury, Romero was proving to be a crucial part of Tottenham’s side, leading the squad with 1.3 blocks made per game.

With Antonio Conte’s preference to play with three central defenders, Spurs will surely be looking to bring another long-term option in to build a partnership with the Argentinian defender.

The Latest: Tottenham in for De Ligt

According to an article by Sport (as shared by Sport Witness) which analyses the rumour concerning Barcelona’s chances of signing the Dutchman, the outlet state that Tottenham and Chelsea have ‘launched’ themselves into the race for the 22-year-old.

This comes as Juventus are looking to sell the player, due to serious ongoing financial issues.

It is reported that the ‘bidding’ for De Ligt has ‘started’, implying that the defender’s agent, Mino Raiola, is in contact with the Catalan club. It is believed that during these communications with Barcelona, Raiola has alerted them to the enquiries made by Tottenham and Chelsea.

The Verdict: Difficult

Due to Barcelona also being in a tricky situation financially, both London clubs are seen in a better position in the race to sign De Ligt.

Despite some pundits saying that the Dutchman has not lived up to his £67.5 million price-tag, many others are still beaming with praise for the youngster. Ajax general manager Edwin van der Sar compared the centre-back’s mentality to that of Cristiano Ronaldo’s, whilst former Juventus star Andrea Barzagli claimed that De Ligt has ‘incredible potential’.

With this exponential potential, it is expected that the biggest clubs from across Europe will be in for the player in the upcoming transfer windows, especially if the Old Lady are actively looking to sell. This will make it harder for Spurs, who will need to challenge for Champions League football if they are to secure the services of the youngster over the likes of Chelsea.