Barcelona are interested in securing the services of AFC Ajax defender Frenkie de Jong next summer. According to recent reports, the Dutch centre-back is gathering interest from the Catalans after putting in some eye-catching displays this season. It is being reported that Barca has sent scouts to watch him in action for the Dutch giants with the intention of making a swoop for him at the end of the season.
With talented players such as Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta all over 30 years old, there is a need to recruit young players who can be the stars of the future. Hence, Barca are trying to sign de Jong as he has the potential to be a world-class centre-back in the coming years.
The 20-year-old is currently out injured but has put in some dazzling displays in the past few years. He is a ball-playing defender which will suit Barcelona’s style of play if they are successful in luring him to the Nou Camp in the near future. At 20, he still has a lot of years to develop his game and be a future star in La Liga.
Barcelona are currently leading the La Liga table with a tally of 69 points in 27 matches. They are eight points above second-placed Atletico Madrid with just 11 matches to go in this campaign. Ernesto Valverde’s side currently has the second-best defensive record in the league and has leaked in just 13 goals during the course of this season. The Catalans have the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Yerry Mina, Thomas Vermaelen and Gerard Pique vying for a place in Valverde’s first-team.
The addition of de Jong will undoubtedly bolster Valverde’s defensive options going into the new campaign and add more competition for places in the Barca squad. The 20-year-old is highly versatile and can play in a number of positions across the midfield and the backline. He primarily operates as a centre-back but can also be deployed at the centre of the park as a holding midfielder which makes him an ideal asset for any of his potential suitors.
de Jong has played for both Willem and Ajax youth sides before breaking into the first-team picture at the Johan Cruijff Arena. He has featured in 26 matches for Ajax this season, scoring once while providing a whopping 9 assists across all competitions. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of de Jong and whether he makes a switch to the Nou Camp in the near future.
