Barcelona target Ajax youngster amidst Premier League interest

Barcelona are lacking a bit in the midfield as they look to Ajax to fix their problems

Barcelona finally had their first slip up of the season. A 2-1 away loss to Leganes saw a masterful Philippe Coutinho goal erased after two early first half goals by the home side.

Manager Ernesto Valverde opted to start Belgian Thomas Vermaelen at left back in place of Jordi Alba. This was mainly due to Alba playing three full 90 minutes matches in just nine days.

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Unfortunately for Barcelona and Valverde, there really was no other option. Now, the club is targeting a versatile Dutchman who can help the club in more ways than one.

Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong is being looked at by Barcelona as a possible acquisition before the end of the season. Known mainly for his role in midfield, de Jong can bring a good deal of flexibility to the team.

Ajax mainly play de Jong in a midfield three, favoring the traditional 433 formation. However, de Jong’s last two appearances for the Dutch club have come in defense.

Giving Valverde the option of playing de Jong in either the midfield or defense would open up a good deal of options for the manager. Rotation is key for a club as high-profile as Barcelona, with expectations lumped on the team day in and day out.

Having the luxury of substituting de Jong in one match in the midfield and then turning around and starting him in the back line the next match would give Barcelona an extra step up on their competition.

A player that can fill multiple roles like de Jong can give the coach an extra sense of security. Frenkie de Jong is essentially playing the role of two players while only taking up one roster spot.

Prying him away from Ajax will certainly come at a cost, especially if Barcelona want to sign him in the January transfer window. Ajax know how valuable he can be to the Catalan club, so an exorbitant fee is not out of the question.

While de Jong may not be the blockbuster signing most Barcelona supporters are used to, his value to the club at their current state would be immeasurable. He will also be a great prospect for the future of Barcelona, which is always something exciting to look forward to.

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