Ajax sign highly-rated starlet Razvan Marin to replace Barcelona-bound Frenkie De Jong

The Dutch club are restocking ahead of a potential summer exodus, with a number of their first-teamers coveted by Europe's elite

Romanian international Razvan Marin is pegged as Frenkie's replacement (Getty)

Ajax have signed Romanian starlet Razvan Marin to help fill the hole left by Frenkie De Jong's sale to FC Barcelona.

De Jong is considered one of the world's best young players, and Barcelona won a battle with Manchester City - who hosted the player on a brief visit to the north-west - and Paris Saint-Germain for the Dutch midfielder's signature. He will join up with the Spanish champions after completing his season in Amsterdam, where Ajax are still on for the treble after reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.

Marin has been billed as a De Jong replacement by people close to the Dutch giants though the 22-year-old midfielder, who arrives from Standard Liege for £10.7m (€12.5m), is unlikely to be the only arrival at the Johan Cruijff Arena this summer.

Matthijs De Ligt, Ajax's 19-year-old central defender, is also coveted by a number of Europe's top clubs with Barca keen to reunite the Netherlands internationals if possible. The finances of that deal are somewhat more difficult for the Catalans to get done, but with Ajax showing an interest in young defender Jean Clair Todibo and midfielder Carles Aleña there remains hope of a deal.

Ajax also hope to retain a number of other players who have caught the eye this season, including Argentina international Nicolas Tagliafico, a left-back, goalkeeper Andre Onana, striker Kasper Dolberg and midfielder Donny van de Beek. Maximilian Wober has already committed to signing for Sevilla.

With vultures circling such a gaggle of talent, it is no wonder Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars has chosen to move quickly and Marin arrives with a reputation as 'the Romanian Xavi', according to local reports.

If he is anything like as good as the World Cup winner then his stay with Ajax may also be fairly brief, with the pipeline of talent between Amsterdam and Barcelona that was so prolific in the 1990s looking to have reopened for business.