Poker for de Ligt: FC Barcelona is ahead by a nose

Numerous Spanish media have already reported that defense jewel Matthijs de Ligt will move from Ajax Amsterdam to FC Barcelona this summer. The chances that the Bundesliga soccer team FC Bayern Munich will sign the Dutch top talent, seem to sink further and further.

The Spanish daily “Sport” reports that the youngster has already reached an agreement with those responsible in Barcelona on the framework conditions for a contract. According to the agreement, the 19-year-old is to sign a five-year contract until 2024, which is based financially on the contract of his club colleague Frenkie de Jong. The midfielder signed the contract with Barcelona in January.

Barca President Josep Maria Bartomeu had already indicated to “ESPN” last week an agreement with de Ligt: “I know what will happen to him, but it’s not the moment to talk about it.

De Ligt is “a great player and a great central defender,” enthused Bartomeu. The Spanish media were already convinced a week ago that the Dutch international in the service of Ajax Amsterdam would switch to the Catalans for 70 million euros.
But since there is no official agreement between the Spanish and de Ligts employer Ajax on a transfer, FC Bayern will not give in yet.

The central defender’s club also confirmed that the German record champion is still in the race. “There is no chance that Matthijs will stay here,” Ajax coach Erik ten Hag admitted to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, adding: “He will switch to Barca or Bavaria.

De Ligt has been associated with the two top clubs for months. According to “Mundo Deportivo”, the central defender could become the successor of Jérôme Boateng or Mats Hummels in the defensive center of the German record holder.
If FC Bayern were to pay the claimed transfer fee of 70 million euros, Munich would have paid a total of around 150 million euros for a new center-back duo. Bavaria already hired Lucas Hernández of Atlético Madrid for 80 million euros, but he can also play on the defensive side.