De Ligt skips Ajax camp while 'awaiting possible transfer'
Paris - Matthijs de Ligt is closing in on a move to Juventus after Ajax announced on Saturday that the rising star will skip the Dutch champions pre-season training camp due to his expected departure.
In a statement, Ajax named a 28-man squad travelling to the camp in Bramberg in Austria on Saturday afternoon, adding that "awaiting a possible transfer, Matthijs de Ligt is not travelling with the group."
Last week, the player's agent, Mino Raiola, told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that a deal had been struck between Juve and the powerful centre-back, reportedly a five-year contract worth €12 million ($13.5 million) a season with a €135-million release clause.
However, the two clubs had been locked in negotiations, with Ajax reportedly demanding €75 million, but Gazzetta dello Sport claims that a fee of €70 million is set to be agreed.
De Ligt, who turns 20 next month, is expected to join Serie A champions Juve after wowing with superb displays during Ajax's thrilling charge to the Champions League semi-finals last season.
He captained the team to a domestic double as their fairytale European run - which included wins over Real Madrid and Juve - came to a heart-breaking end with a semi-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after leading 3-0 on aggregate at half-time in the second leg.
The signing would be the sixth of what has already been a busy summer for Juventus, who have brought in Maurizio Sarri as coach after removing Massimiliano Allegri and signed Paris Saint-Germain's wantaway midfielder Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey, Luca Pellegrini, Merih Demiral and 41-year-old Gianluigi Buffon, who returns to Turin after a year alongside Rabiot in the French capital.
It would also be Ajax's second big sale after Frenkie de Jong left for Barcelona in a €75-million deal.