Barcelona make £51m first offer for Arsenal and Man City target Matthijs de Ligt after already securing Ajax team-mate Frenkie de Jong
In January the Spanish champions secured a deal for De Ligt’s Ajax team-mate and friend Frenkie de Jong, though 21-year-old will arrive in Spain next season
Sponsored by
BARCELONA have reportedly logged a £51million bid for Matthijs de Ligt, who is also a target for Arsenal and Manchester City.
In January the Spanish champions secured a deal for De Ligt’s Ajax team-mate and friend Frenkie de Jong for £65m, though 21-year-old will arrive in Spain next season.
Now Nou Camp chiefs will turn their attention to centre-back De Ligt, and according to , a five-year deal has already been put to the 19-year-old.
Barca have made a £51m bid to Ajax for the defender with the fee possibly rising, depending on how long he spends in Spain.
The move was not certain until De Ligt, along with De Jong, helped dump Barca’s rivals Real Madrid out of the Champions League.
After their shock 4-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, De Ligt later informed Barca chiefs of his desire to follow his friend to the Nou Camp.
Initially the teenager, who turns 20 in August, was undecided over the move fearing he would not be a regular feature in the starting 11.
Most Read Arsenal Transfer News
However, despite facing competition with Gerard Pique as the right-sided centre-half, De Ligt has been informed he will be a key player in the Barca setup.
Arsenal had emerged as contenders to sign the Dutchman, as Unai Emery desperately looks to freshen up his back line.
However, City have refused to rule themselves out of the race as they search for a replacement for club captain Vincent Kompany, 32.
