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BARCELONA

Barcelona in pole position for De Ligt

According to Catalan television station TV3, Barça have the advantage over PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich in the race for the Ajax defender

Barcelona in pole position for De Ligt
FABIO FERRARIAFP

Barcelona are leading the pack in the race to sign Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, according to Catalan television station TV3 on their programme El Club de la Mitjanit. The information, provided by journalist Oriol Domènech gains additional weight considering that he gave a number of correct tips during Barcelona's successful bid to sign Frenkie de Jong from Ajax.

Barcelona persuaded to keep up the hunt for De Ligt

An attempt to sign the 19 year old Ajax captain seemed a bridge too far for the Catalan club after landing De Jong. However the player's performances and his desire to move to Barcelona have changed the thinking at the Camp Nou, who now see him as a strategic signing. Barcelona president Bartomeu considers that it's time to make concerted effort to sort out the transition at the back with Piqué getting older. And if Barcelona want De Ligt they need to move now - PSG, Juventus and Bayern are all extremely interested.

De Ligt's quality plain for all to see

De Ligt has shown his quality with Holland in the Nations League, where he'll have another chance to show his style in the Final Four in June. And he wowed viewers across Europe in his showpiece matches against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. His sale to Barcelona is already expected and Barcelona are hoping, thanks to the great relationship between Bartomeu and Overmars after doing the deal for De Jong, that the price won't be excessive. Ajax could accept just 70 million euros - the problem will be if PSG, Juventus and Bayern start a bidding war...