Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene has conceded the club would be powerless to keeping Matthijs de Ligt in Turin if the Dutch defender pushed for a move away, handing Chelsea a transfer boost in their reported interest.
Thomas Tuchel is actively in the market this summer for reinforcements at centre-back following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers, and De Ligt has emerged as one of the favourites to join his side.
There have been suggestions that the former Ajax defender is looking to leave the Serie A giants after three years in Italy following his £67.5m move in 2019, during which time he has featured 117 times for the club, winning the Scudetto just once.
Speculation on a move to the Premier League will now only intensify after Juve chief Arrivabene admitted it would be “impossible” to retain De Ligt’s services if the 22-year-old pushed for a move, but the club will only entertain ‘satisfactory’ offers.
Arrivabene told Tuttosport: “Today, keeping a player who wants to leave is impossible. It’s not always about the money and if one wants to go, you don’t just tell him: ok, go ahead.
“It’s hard to keep a player, but all those sitting at the table of negotiations must be satisfied. Who has the money wins.”
Further reports indicate that Juventus are closing in on a move for Paul Pogba, who recently left Manchester United following the expiration of his contract, and Arrivabene shed further light on the club’s current transfer policy when it comes to the Frenchman.
Arrivabene said: “In a meeting, certain names were brought up – some of which have arrived, like [Dusan] Vlahovic.
“It was a case of open a door, throw a name out, everyone looks at you as if you were crazy and then, slowly, the machine starts up and builds the operation. Thus was born Pogba. From a question: ‘Why don’t we take Pogba?’.
“The idea is not enough, the idea is just a provocation, then you have to put it into practice.”