Arsenal: Are the Matthijs de Ligt rumors as ridiculous as they seem?

Arsenal are linked to stalwart youngster Matthijs De Ligt, but are these rumors as ridiculous as they seem or could it actually happen?

It’s no secret Arsenal will be in the market for centerbacks during the summer transfer window. Many fans are a bit pessimistic (perhaps rightly so) that the club will not spend the large transfer fees required to get a top centerback nowadays.

One of those top centerbacks is Ajax’s 19-year Golden Boy-winner, Matthijs de Ligt. De Ligt’s name has been in transfer rumors ever since he broke onto the stage at 17 for Ajax. He is the first defender ever to win the well-respected Golden Boy award. He is the current captain of Ajax and is already starting next to Virgin van Dijk on the Dutch national team. It should come to no surprise to anyone—he is going to be rather expensive.

It was reported back in November that Ajax set the asking price for de Ligt around €60 million. Just last week it was reported by The Sun (yes, I know), that Arsenal would have to pay £70 million to secure his signature. We cannot know for sure what it’d take to sign the generational defender, but it’s fair to assume the price would be in the £60-70 million range.

Many Arsenal fans laugh at that price fully knowing the club is not exactly known for splashing out big sums of cash on one player. However, I’m going to be a bit more optimistic about this. It may be foolish, but at least it makes for a good discussion.

Arsenal broke their transfer fee record just last year, spending £56 million on Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. I think it is fair to say that no Arsenal fan regrets that signing—Auba’s output has been phenomenal during his time in North London. The reason I bring this up is perhaps it’s a sign that Arsenal are slowly moving into the modern day where you essentially have to spend to get top players—the Guendouzi’s of the world being the exception.

Breaking the transfer fee record again could come as a bit of a shock, but it might be needed to get Arsenal back among the elite. De Ligt is a player worth spending that money on—he is just what this defense is missing. He is big, strong, good in the air and on the ground, and perhaps most importantly, he is a born leader. After watching him play and listening to Erividisie fans talk about him, the consensus is that he is the vocal presence of Ajax, constantly talking with and organizing his teammates. It comes as no surprise that he was awarded the captain’s armband at just 19.

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This is what Arsenal’s defense is lacking. Yes, some of the players just don’t fit the bill, but they have lacked a true leader in the backline for years. Someone who is worthy of wearing the captain’s armband. Someone who brings attitude, toughness, and is willing to lead by example. A better, younger Sokratis if you will.

There are other options out on the market, such as Kalidou Koulibaly or Milan Skriniar. Both would be fantastic signings. But the reason I think de Ligt is the man for the job is because of the hunger and attitude he brings. Many argue Arsenal have been missing this since the Vieira days. The effect he could have on this Arsenal team could be immense, similar to van Dijk’s arrival in Liverpool.

It’s been reported that the Gunners will have a budget of only £45 million this summer, and therefore would not be able to afford de Ligt. I think that’s ridiculous for two reasons: One, the season is not over yet—we don’t know if Arsenal will be playing Champions League football or Europa League football again. The difference between the two is tens of millions of pounds. Second, Arsenal have new sponsorships with Adidas and Emirates beginning over the summer, projecting tens of millions more in revenue. Throw in player sales and Arsenal should have a nice transfer kitty this summer.

It will be very tough to bring de Ligt to the Emirates, don’t get me wrong. With the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester City all rumored to want him, the odds may be stacked against us. But de Ligt has stated in the past he wants to go somewhere he can play and develop.

That’s something we can offer that the bigger clubs may not given how many great defender are already on their books. Before any of this can be considered however, Arsenal must do one big thing: qualify for the Champions League. If the team cannot do that, it’ll likely be another bargain-hunting summer.