Ajax have announced defender Matthijs De Ligt has been left out of their squad for their summer tour to Austria pending ‘a possible transfer’.
Teenager De Ligt, a target of several of Europe’s biggest clubs, is close to sealing a move to Italian champions Juventus, it has been reported.
Ajax said in a statement on their official website: ‘Ajax left Saturday afternoon with 28 players to the training camp in Bramberg, Austria. Awaiting a possible transfer, Matthijs De Ligt does not travel with the group.’
✔️ Sergiño Dest
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✖️ Matthijs de LigtSquad news for Austria ⤵️#PreSeason 🇦🇹
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Manchester United, Barcelona and Paris St Germain have all been linked with De Ligt this summer, but it has been reported in Italy that Ajax and Juventus have agreed to a £71.6-million deal for the 19-year-old.
The defender played a starring role for Ajax last season as they won the Eredivisie title and reached the Champions League semi-final.
The Holland international was expected to join Barcelona, but after talks faltered over personal terms Juventus appear to have won the race for his signature.
The player has agreed to a reported deal worth £10.4m a season with Juve, who extended their record of successive Serie A titles to nine last season.