Bayern Munich: 5 possible replacements for Mats Hummels

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 25: Mats Hummels of Bayern Muenchen lifts the trophy in celebration with team mates after the DFB Cup final between RB Leipzig and Bayern Muenchen at Olympiastadion on May 25, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

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GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL – JUNE 06: Matthijs de Ligt of the Netherlands gestures during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between the Netherlands and England at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on June 06, 2019 in Guimaraes, Portugal. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) /

Ajax CB Matthijs de Ligt

Juventus, PSG, Manchester United, Manchester City and FC Barcelona are all powerhouse clubs who have been linked to Ajax star center back Matthijs de Ligt at various points this summer.

Manchester United have seemingly fallen out of the race after failing to qualify for the Champions League, and now Cadena SER reports that de Ligt and his agent Mino Raiola have rejected Barcelona. While Barcelona are the most successful club, they are also loaded at the position with Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti.

The news that de Ligt has reportedly rejected Barcelona is an indication that Bayern, PSG and Juventus are the teams to beat. Most analysts seem to expect PSG, who have the most money to pay de Ligt’s wages and desperately need a standout center back, to land de Ligt’s signature. Furthermore, Bayern are usually stingy on the transfer market and already paid a record 80 million euros for Lucas Hernandez to bolster their defense.

That said, Bayern are very much in the race for de Ligt and could still be a sleeper team to land the ultra-talented Ajax defender. De Ligt’s leadership skills and athletic ability make him one of the world’s most tantalizing prospects, and he’s been on the radar of top clubs even before leading Ajax to incredible success in this year’s Champions League. He’s not a likely option for Bayern, but he could be their dream signing. The timing of Hummels’s sale to Dortmund makes the link to de Ligt even more interesting.

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