Barcelona Edges Liverpool In Bid To Sign £60m-rated Centre Back

As things stand, Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona are the overwhelming favourites to sign highly-rated Dutch centre-back Matthijs De Ligt when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.

The 19-year-old currently plies his trade for Dutch Eredivisie giants Ajax Amsterdam at the moment.

It was reported by Daily Mirror that Barcelona are ahead of Liverpool in the race for the Dutch international player.

De Ligt enhanced his reputation as one of the best young defenders on the world football stage when he helped the Dutch national team to a crucial win over world champions France in their UEFA Nations League meeting on Friday night.

The player lined up alongside the world’s most expensive defender Virgil Van Dijk as both centre back duo were hugely influential in the 2-0 win over the French team.

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Van Dijk had earlier talked up a possible Liverpool transfer for De Ligt in his pre-match thoughts ahead of the United Nations League against France.

It seems like Van Dijk and Liverpool will have to look elsewhere for a new centre back because the report from the Daily Mirror further stated that Barcelona see De Ligt as a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique who will be 32 by the next year.

The Spanish giants are ready to splash the sum of £60m to secure his signing from Ajax.