Chelsea are “making progress” on a deal to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Blues are hoping to get an agreement on a fee for the Dutchman in the region of £60m to £65m. Up until recently, it was believed that Juve were holding out for in excess of £80m but Jacobs claims the Serie A side have “softened” their stance as they are now prepared to do a deal for £70m:

Told Chelsea are hoping to pay
£60-65 million. Juventus trying for closer to 70 and other interest (and there is some) may mean they hold out for 75. But that’s still progress from when talks first started and the fear on price was 80+. De Ligt very open to the move.

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 3, 2022

As Jacobs also mentions, it’s likely that performance-related adds-on could make up the difference between the two teams’ valuations but we shall see how negotiations progress in the coming days.

It has become clear that de Ligt is the number target for manager Thomas Tuchel to strengthen his defence, and it seems as if a transfer is now looking like a real possibility. Other teams, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool have also been linked with the Netherlands international but Chelsea are very much the frontrunners for his signature currently.