:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63215219/1133991300.jpg.0.jpg)
The Matthijs de Ligt to Barcelona rumours have intensified this week with the latest reports claiming the Ajax defender wants the Camp Nou as his next home.
According to Mundo Deportivo, De Ligt has not yet received an offer from Barcelona but is starting to believe his future lies with the Catalan giants.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu’s recent admission that De Ligt is “on the table” has helped, and he’s starting to think he can play while also learning from Gerard Pique.
Sport have a similar story on De Ligt and reckon Barcelona are growing optimistic they can land the Ajax captain.
He has been put off by the fierce competition for places at the Camp Nou previously, as he’s more motivated by the “sporting project” with regards his next move rather than the finances on offer.
However, it seems that De Ligt is now willing to take up the challenge of fighting for a starting spot, although Juventus are still expected to make a late push for the centre-back.
De Ligt won the 2018 Golden Boy award, the first defender to scoop the prize, and looks to be Europe’s best young centre-back.
Yet it remains to be seen just how Barca can afford De Ligt having spent heavily on Frenkie De Jong, Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Arthur in the last couple of transfer windows.
The Ajax defender will certainly not come cheap, and if he does arrive it will also mean Barca have a surplus of centre-backs with De Ligt joining Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and Jean-Clair Todibo all in the squad.