Tottenham Hotspur take on Ajax in the Champions League semi-final tomorrow night, as they hope to overturn a 1-0 deficit to reach their first ever Champions League final.
There are a number of players within the Ajax squad who have been linked to Spurs of late, but perhaps the biggest rise to fame has come in the form of Matthijs de Ligt.
The 19-year-old central defender and Ajax captain has enjoyed an immense season both domestically and in the Champions League, being an integral part of the team that beat both Real Madrid and Juventus, and even scoring the winner against the latter.
Tottenham were linked with the young defender back in 2018 (Standard) as a long-term replacement for Toby Alderweireld.
Alderweireld has just a year left on his current deal, as does Belgian teammate Jan Vertonghen.
The Daily Star have now announced that De Ligt has snubbed interest from Manchester United, despite a contract offer of £250,000 per week for five years.
The Star say De Ligt favours a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid when he eventually leaves Ajax.
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The report also claims that a source close to De Ligt said: “Matthijs is going to become the best defender in the world.
“He will have the choice to join whoever he wants, but he has no interest in going to United. They are not the attractive proposition they once were.
“He knows he is in a strong bargaining position because his stock has risen so fast. He’s one of the most in-demand stars on the planet.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
It seems as if Tottenham’s hopes of signing De Ligt remain rather slim, especially when matched up against the big money of Man United and huge trophy cabinets associated with Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, it would do the club no harm to submit an early summer bid for the central defender, promising him first-team football, Champions League and a chance to play in the new stadium week in week out. Even if the bid is turned down, it would at least show a statement of intent from Spurs and Levy.
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