Barcelona are plotting a move for AFC Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt next summer. According to recent reports, the Catalans are keeping tabs on the progress of the Dutch wonderkid and could make a move for him when the summer transfer window opens at the end of the season. It is being reported that the La Liga champions-elect are keeping a keen eye on the player and are prepared to have talks with Ajax over the possibility of a transfer in the near future. The Netherlands international can be considered as one of the best centre-back prospects in world football and his dazzling displays for Ajax have alerted some of the biggest teams in Europe.
Some sources are claiming that Barcelona have a good relationship with Ajax and are keen on acquiring de Ligt’s services. They will also monitor his situation during the international break ahead of a potential move in the summer. However, he won’t come cheap after the Dutch Eredivisie sold de Ligt’s former central defensive partner Davinson Sanchez for £40m last summer.
It is believed that the Catalans are eager to recruit de Ligt as they will part ways with either Thomas Vermaelen or Yerry Mina at the end of the current campaign. The 18-year-old’s current contract with Ajax runs out in the summer of 2021. Barcelona have shown in the past that they are not afraid to splash the cash as evidenced by Phillipe Coutinho’s big-money arrival in January and could look to make a big-money move next summer.
Barcelona are currently leading the La Liga table with a tally of 75 points in 29 league matches. They are 11 points above second-placed Atletico Madrid with just 9 matches to go in this campaign. They have also secured progression into the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League and are now set to face AS Roma over two legs next month for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Catalans have the likes of Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Thomas Vermaelen and Yerry Mina vying for a place in Ernesto Valverde’s first-team and the addition of de Ligt will definitely add more competition for places in the Barca squad as they look to maintain their dominance in domestic football and in Europe in the coming years.
The 18-year-old has featured in 33 matches for Ajax this season, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in all competitions. He also has three international caps to his name. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of de Ligt and whether he ends up making a switch to the Nou Camp in the near future.
