Could Matthijs de Ligt be headed to Liverpool instead of Barcelona?

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt looks like he will be leaving the Eredivisie after a breakout season in his home country, but could he be heading to Liverpool?

Many pundits speculated that Matthijs de Ligt would be headed to Barcelona after the 19 year-old proved he is already one of the best in the world in the Champions League where he dethroned Real Madrid and Juventus. However, many also predict that Liverpool could snatch up the young superstar given his center back partnership with Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch national team.

Liverpool FC reported that de Ligt said the following after possibly his last game for Ajax,

"“Has it been my last game at the Johan Cruyff Arena? I do not know yet,” De Ligt is quoted as saying. There are conversations, but there is still no agreement. With who? The newspapers write, so choose one yourself”"

It definitely seems like de Ligt has not made a decision yet on his future, which could give Jurgen Klopp’s team a hope that they could sign him. Along with Virgil van Dijk, the Reds also have “The Flying Dutchman” Gini Wijnaldumm which would surely make the young defender comfortable at the club right from the start.

After only allowing 22 goals this season in the Premier League, it will be hard to improve an already sterling Liverpool defense, but de Ligt next to Premier League Player of the Year, van Dijk, could be a partnership made in defensive heaven.

Jurgen Klopp has switched partners with Liverpool’s number four throughout the season, ranging from Joe Gomez to Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren. Joe Gomez was spectacular until his mid-season leg injury which saw him having to sit out for nearly three months.

The move could allow Gomez to move out onto the right side of the defense, which would provide Trent Alexander-Arnold the opportunity to move into his potential position into the midfield three. Klopp is known for giving young players big chances in the first team, and de Ligt would surely start when he got to Merseyside.

However, this might not be the case at the Catalan club who have a plethora of veterans in the side. This surely is worrying Erneste Valverde and his staff that they might not be able to sway the superstar from his Dutch team.