Matthijs de Ligt transfer news: Defender ‘uncertain’ over future as Man Utd, Barcelona and Liverpool circle

United, Barcelona, Liverpool and PSG are all interested in the 19-year-old Ajax defender

Miguel Delaney
Portugal
Monday 10 June 2019 08:08 BST
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Transfer deadline day summer 2019: The deals done so far

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The Matthijs De Ligt transfer saga is set to go on for a few weeks yet, as the Ajax centre-half said he will take a holiday before making any decision on his future.

The much-admired 19-year-old is wanted by Barcelona, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and admired by a series of other clubs, despite the Nations League showing that he still has room for improvement.

Speaking after Netherlands’ 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the final, where De Ligt was caught out for Goncalo Guedes’ winning goal, the Dutch international said he is no closer to any firm decision on his future.

It is expected that he will eventually choose Barcelona, but there is still a considerable distance between the position of both parties, with other clubs willing to offer more money in wages.

Ajax have an asking price of around £70m, with the player certain to leave this summer.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” De Ligt said when asked what colour shirt he would be wearing next season.

“Now I am going on vacation and I just take a rest, relax and then I will see.”

“When you rest, you have enough time to think so that’s good.”

Despite the Dutch defeat in Porto, De Ligt reflected proudly on what has been a season of progress for the national side.

“I think in the beginning we didn’t expect to reach the final but we did, and it if is a final you want to win it.

De Ligt celebrates scoring against England
De Ligt celebrates scoring against England (Reuters)

“I am not happy that we lost but proud that we came here.”

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