Matthijs de Ligt 'inspired' by Antonio Rudiger saga as Chelsea seek Christensen replacement

Chelsea looked like there were on the verge of signing Juventus defender, Matthijs de Ligt. The Blues and the Italians have not seen eye to eye on the valuation of the Dutch international however a deal is said to be close between £60-£75 million.

Signing the 22-year-old centre-back is viewed as a necessity for many Chelsea fans. The loss of Antonio Rudiger and Antonio Rudiger is detrimental to Chelsea’s progress. Thomas Tuchel is on the hunt for their replacements and De Ligt is high up on his list of options. On the other hand, Chelsea is also at the top of de Ligt’s wish list.

The centre-back handed in a transfer request amid Chelsea’s interest. According to Tuttosport, De Ligt is inspired by Tuchel’s development of Antonio Rudiger. He would like to work with the German manager to show his full potential.

Jack Grealish £100m verdict shows why Matthijs de Ligt Chelsea transfer sparks instant test

Since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival in 2021, the Blues have become a defensive force. Thomas Tuchel prior to Tuchel’s arrival spent a lot of time on Frank Lampard’s bench. Whilst it was always clear that he had the potential to become the centre-back that he is today, it was unexpected to see such a quick turnaround.

The month of February 2021 became a month of 'remontada' for Rudiger under Tuchel. The Chelsea boss helped the German international restore respect from the world and developed him into a beast of a defender. It was always great to watch Rudiger put on a defensive masterclass week in and week out, coupled with his unpredictable drives into the final third to unleash a super galactic shot.

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