Chelsea would be bringing “another van Dijk” to English football if they step up their interest in Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

The Netherlands international has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, along with Manchester City, and van der Kraan says that de Ligt would be a superb signing for any Premier League side:

“The player has actually been surprised that none of the big Premier League clubs have knocked on the door. I think Matthijs de Ligt is absolutely made for English football. He is an absolute force. You have another Van Dijk coming to the Premier League if you get Matthijs de Ligt.”

De Ligt moved to Juve from Ajax for £67.5m in 2019 but his agent Mino Raiola has been dropping massive hints that the 22-year-old will be switching teams at the end of the season.

With the Blues having four centre-backs out of contract next summer, including Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta, it seems very likely that reinforcements will be brought in.

Whether de Ligt is the number one target, though, is another matter entirely. Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe have also been mentioned as possible candidates over the past few months.