Matthijs de Ligt to Barcelona: The Dutch side has revealed the asking price for the much sought-after centre-back.
Barcelona have returned to winning ways this season with convincing victories in the last few weeks over top-quality sides. The Catalan side cruised to 4-2 victory over Sevilla, and defeated Inter Milan 2-0, before putting 5 past arch-rivals Real Madrid in season’s first El Clasico last weekend.
Earlier this week, Barcelona registered a victory in the Copa Del Rey with Clement Lenglet scoring an injury time winner against Cultural Leonesa.
Barca returns to La Liga this weekend as they face Rayo Vallecano, who are 19th in the league at the moment.
Meanwhile, Barca are also keeping tabs on the transfer market. The side were hugely linked with Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt over the summer, but no deal was put on the table from the Catalan side. However, Ajax has now told the club their asking price as Barcelona eyes move for the centre-back next year.
Matthijs de Ligt to Barcelona:
It has been reported by Spanish outlets that Barcelona are not the only side chasing the Ajax defender. The youngster is hot property in Europe at the moment, and the defending champions of English and Italian leagues, Manchester City and Juventus are interested in the player as well.
Ajax have set a €60m (£52.8m) price-tag for defender Matthijs de Ligt (19) amid interest from Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus. [Mundo Deportivo] pic.twitter.com/vi0iEYM6uP
— City Watch (@City_Watch) November 2, 2018
Ajax Amsterdam, meanwhile, has slapped a 60 million euros price-tag on the 19-year old defender, who has been key to Ajax’s campaign this season.
Ajax have put a €60m price tag on their captain Matthijs de Ligt (19), Juventus and Barcelona were informed by Ajax director of football Marc Overmars. FC Bayern and Manchester City also have big interest in the defender [Mundo Deportivo] pic.twitter.com/qUxduPwnU5
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) November 2, 2018
The Dutch side is currently 2nd in the league, five points behind rivals PSV Eindhoven.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are facing a defensive crisis at the moment, as their first-team star Samuel Umtiti is currently on sidelines with injury. With Vermaelen also injured, Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet is the only centre-back pairing at the club.
According to El Mundo Deportivo, #FCBayern and Manchester City are very intersted in Matthijs de Ligt who’s contract at Ajax runs until 2021. Ajax want €60m for the center back. pic.twitter.com/xdBTtFsV9m
— Home Bayern (@HomeBayern___) November 2, 2018
Pique has struggled with form this season, and with the Spanish defender turning 32 in February next year, Barcelona are eager to bring fresh blood into the side.
What next?
It has also been reported that Ajax don’t plan to sell the player in the January transfer window, and want to wait till the summer.
Sporting director of Marc Overmars of Ajax has admitted the club are powerless to stop Spurs targets Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt leaving.
“We are realistic. After this season, we’ll lose two or three players, they have such a high level we can’t keep them”.#THFC #COYS pic.twitter.com/kQW5w5mDX5
— Ricky Sacks 🎙 (@RickSpur) November 2, 2018
With top European heavyweights interested in the player, Ajax would expect a transfer battle for their defensive star.
