Player Confirms ‘Massive Offers’ As Arsenal Battle To Sign £50m Star

The transfer window may be closed but managers are working hard on their plans for the summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, the latest on Matthijs de Ligt….

Arsenal face a fight with Manchester City to sign Mattijs de Ligt after the £50m-rated Ajax defender confirmed he has ‘massive offers’ on the table, according to the Mirror.

De Ligt has been with Ajax his entire career having joined the clubs youth system as a kid and he’s emerged as one of the most highly-rated defenders in Europe this season.

The 18-year-old has been virtually ever-present for Ajax after being named as the youngest ever captain in the clubs history while he’s also become a regular with the Dutch national team.

His impressive form has caught the attention of several clubs throughout Europe with the Mirror claiming that Arsenal, Man City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona have all expressed their interest.

The report says interested clubs had scouts in the stands to watch Ajax during their defeat at champions PSV Eindhoven yesterday as the race for the centre-back hots-up.

The Mirror claims de Ligt has already turned down a move to Barca as he feared he would be nothing more than a bench warmer and the centre-back has now suggested he won’t move simply for money, despite having ‘massive offers’ on the table.

De Ligt, who currently earns around £15,000-a-week, is quoted by the Mirror as saying:

“I am going to make a decision with my head, not based on money offers.

“I think some players would be tempted when they get massive offers. But compared to ordinary people I think I earn a huge wage right now, anyway.

“My next step just has to be right for me when I look at the team and where and how I will live.”

It seems like de Ligt has his head screwed on and he’s not going to just join a top team to sit on the bench earning huge wages so it’s going to be interesting to see where he decides to go this summer.

The Mirror claims that Arsenal are reluctant to meet Ajax’s £50m valuation so City could be viewed as favourites but it remains to be seen whether the player would be willing to join Pep Guardiola’s side considering the competition he’d face.

At Arsenal, he’d have a far easier route to the first team as we’re in desperate need of a commanding centre-back with Shkdoran Mustafi showing once again during the defeat to Newcastle that he’s not up to the level we need.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news

Per Mertesacker is also set to retire, Laurent Koscielny has been hampered by a persistent Achilles injury while Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have failed to progress as hoped so de Ligt could be a key part of our defensive unit if he opted for a move to the Emirates.