Tottenham were linked with a move for Matthijs De Ligt, but the Daily Star has revealed that the Londoners are turning their attentions elsewhere as they ‘can’t afford it’. De Ligt has an asking price of £69m and salary demands of £10.4m-a-year/£200k-per-week, so it’s hard to see a deal ever being done between Spurs and Ajax.
De Ligt is also being represented by Mino Raiola, who reportedly wants £8.65m commission in any deal. Daniel Levy would not put up with an agent’s greed in order to procure their client’s signature. That’s not to say the 19-year-old wouldn’t improve the Tottenham squad, however. De Ligt has already made 110 appearances in all competition for Ajax and 15 for the Netherlands national team.
He captains the side on a weekly basis and has missed only one Eredivisie game this season. De Ligt has made 29 league appearances, contributing three goals, made 117 clearances, won 117 aerial duels (66%), averages 67 passes-per-game with 90% accuracy, has blocked 24 shots, only gives away a foul every 174 minutes and averages a tackle (33) or interception (36) every 39 minutes.
The centre-back would be a fantastic replacement for Toby Alderweireld, but he is far too expensive. Tottenham won’t be in a position to break their transfer record on one player this summer, so De Ligt won’t be on his way to London.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Opinion: Ryan Sessegnon’s market value, likely wage demands, chances of joining Tottenham