Ajax manager Erik ten Hag says the race to sign centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is between Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
De Ligt will leave Ajax at the end of the season according to his coach, who believes it is impossible to keep hold of his highly-rated 19-year-old beyond the summer.
Dutchman De Ligt has helped his team to a memorable campaign so far, with the Eredivisie side having knocked out Real Madrid en route to the Champions League quarter-finals and made it to the league summit on goal difference.
Barcelona have already agreed a deal to sign De Ligt’s team-mate Frenkie de Jong, who will move to the Camp Nou this summer – and Ajax boss Ten Hag says the Catalans are firmly in the mix to sign the young stopper too.
“There is zero chance that De Ligt will continue at Ajax,” he told German outlet Süddeutscheaid.
“There are too many clubs interested in him. He will leave us this summer, but I don't know if he will go to Bayern or Barcelona.
“Our team plays with courage and creativity, partly because De Ligt is our captain. He has a lot of courage.
“Most of the Dutch players play with the ball at their feet, but he loves the art of defending. That's something new here.”
Then read…
OPINION Why Mateo Kovacic is the most pointless player in the Premier League
QUIZ! Can you name all 32 clubs Cristiano Ronaldo has scored against in the Champions League?
‘I don’t think Liverpool would look at Ollie Watkins, a striker isn’t a pressing issue for them – it’s Arsenal who need one’ Former Reds star explains why his old club don’t need an out-and-out forward this summer
‘He’ll still be playing at 40 at a good level because he’s in such good shape and looks after himself so well. He does everything to be a top professional’: Ex-Liverpool coach insists Mohamed Salah has plenty more miles in the tank
