Barcelona will reportedly send scouts to watch Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt in action for Netherlands during the international break.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona would be taking a closer look at Matthijs de Ligt during the international break. The Ajax sensation has been called up by Ronald Koeman to represent Netherlands in their international friendlies against England and Portugal.
Matthijs de Ligt has emerged as the latest prodigy to make his name at Ajax. The player, at the nascent age of 18, already has 56 senior appearances to his name, with an outing in a European final on his CV as well. Needless to say, his calm demeanour is also very welcoming, especially for a player of his age.
De Ligt has been on the radar of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Manchester City and many more clubs. But, chief among the aforementioned names is Barcelona, who are seriously considering a summer move for the 18-year-old towering defender.
Barcelona have Yerry Mina, Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen as the options available to Ernesto Valverde at centre-back. Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti has been the first-choice centre-back pairing this season. But, there are doubts as to Pique’s long-term viability, with the player not featuring up to his usual level.
Add to it the fact that Yerry Mina has been tipped to be sent out on loan in the summer for a season to gather some experience in Europe and Barcelona are in need to add one centre-back in the summer, if not more.
Matthijs de Ligt, despite his age, has already proven he can take on the mantle of becoming a starter at a big club and could be tempted by the long-term prospect of forging a partnership for a decade or so for Barcelona at the back.
One sticking point though, might just be Ajax and their stance surrounding De Ligt’s availability. The Dutch giants have often slapped a hefty price tag on their prodigious talents, as evidenced by Davinson Sanchez’s transfer to Tottenham in the summer of 2017.
Barcelona had, in fact, intended to bankroll a move for de Ligt in January but chose not to, after spending over-the-top to bring Coutinho in from Liverpool. The Catalans will now take a closer look at the 18-year-old as he takes the field for Netherlands against two formidable opponents – England and Portugal.
His performances will help Barcelona decide whether the Ajax star is ready to make the jump up a level in the summer. And if they decide in the affirmative, we could very well see Matthijs light up the Nou Camp come summer.
