Matthijs de Ligt, 18, has emerged as a sensational January target for Barcelona, according to the Daily Mail.
The Ajax youngster is earning rave reviews for his performances and comparing the teenager to their other transfer targets such as Virgil Van Dijk, 26, the twice-capped Dutch international scores highly.
Barcelona scouts concluded De Ligt has talent “unparalleled by other defenders his age.” He has been marked out as a long-term leader of the Blaugrana backline with Ernesto Valverde particularly keen on signing the youngster in the January window. This despite his contract running until 2021.
His potential was underlined by the Netherlands national team which capped him after he had made just two senior appearances for his club. His debut was a game to forget when his mistakes led to both Bulgaria’s goals in the 0 – 2 defeat in the World Cup Qualifiers, one of the results which led to the Netherlands missing out on Russia 2018.
It didn’t damage his confidence at club or international level. Having made 23 appearances for Ajax last season, including a debut at Willem II where became the second-youngest goalscorer in the club’s history, De Ligt has made five appearances already this season.
Barcelona are keen to act quickly lest they face competition clubs whose financial power they struggle to match at this level.
