Spanish Champions Drop Out Of Race To Sign Liverpool Target For This Reason

The reason why Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona dropped out of the running for Ajax Amsterdam defender Matthijs De Ligt has been revealed.

The five-time European champions had earlier pulled out of the race to sign the highly rated Dutch international centre back.

According to the publication from German media outlet BildSport, Barcelona are no longer in the running for financial reasons.

It was revealed that the Catalans were priced out of a move for Matthijs De Ligt because of his big wage demands.

• Liverpool Boss Dismisses Possible January Signings

De Ligt, 19, has been attracting the interests of the crème de la crème on the European football scene due to his impressive outings in the colours of Ajax Amsterdam.

The player has also been in tremendous form for his country.

Apart from Barcelona, Matthijs De Ligt has been touted as a possible signing for European heavyweights such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Juventus.

Liverpool centre back Virgil Van Dijk has previously talked up the qualities of the young defender.

He plays with him for the Dutch national team and both players formed a potent centre back partnership in their run to the UEFA Nations League semifinals where they will face England next year for a place in the final of the tournament.