Ajax have set a €75million transfer price for coveted midfielder Frenkie de Jong, a long-term target of Barcelona, according to Sport.
La Blaugrana failed with an approach for the Dutchman this summer, seeing a bid of €30million knocked back. Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars subsequently stated that no players would be sold this year given the club’s Champions League commitments and the belief that the young stars at the club would benefit from another year of being developed at home.
Barcelona have now reportedly set their sights on next summer as the time to land the 21-year-old, who has also been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Tottenham. The Premier League club also made a bid for De Jong this summer, believed to be €50million.
The La Liga champions are convinced that De Jong is a player who can be a future star at the Nou Camp, with the board unanimous in its belief that the Netherlands international is a perfect fit for Barcelona.
“Barca can allow other errors but not letting De Jong escape,” former sporting director Roberto Fernandez said.
Ex-Barcelona player Ronald Koeman gave De Jong his international debut recently, and was also quick to praise the youngster.
“He’s a debutant who plays like a veteran, with a lot of quality, he’s a great talent,” Koeman said.
