Bartomeu send Chelsea De Ligt message as Sarri announces Prem target ‘is a very good player’

Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu has told the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool where Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt will end up.

After s stunning few seasons with Ajax, De ligt has transformed into one of the bets young central defenders in world football and his performances for the Dutch giants have helped Ajax reach the Champions League knockout stages, beating off Real Madrid in the process.

But it is widely expected that he leaves Ajax at the end of the season and joins one of the biggest clubs in world football, with us, United, Liverpool and Barcelona all reportedly ready to shell out and pay the massive £60 million valuation that Ajax have placed on the head of De Ligt.

Bartomeu, who is understood to be an admirer of De Ligt, he told ESPN: “There will be time to speak about him.

“Each year the club has an interest in making signings and this summer will be the same. De Ligt, like the other best players, is on the table.

“He is a great player and a great centre-back. I know what will happen with him but it’s not the moment [to talk].”

Meanwhile,Maurizio Sarri has admitted West Ham midfielder Declan Rice ‘is a very good player’

Despite facing a transfer ban for the next few windows, there has been a lot of transfer speculation about whom we could acquire during the summer transfer window in case their transfer ban gets overturned and name that has been named as a possible transfer target for Sarri is that of Rice, who has been very impressive for the Hammers this season.

ALSO SEE: De Ligt drops transfer hint ,  defiant Koulibaly message

Now amid all the transfer speculation surrounding the England international, Sarri has admitted that Rice is a ‘very good player’ which has sent media outlets wild with rumours.

‘I think that he’s a very good player, very good in the defensive phase because he’s really very able to recover the ball,’ Sarri said.

‘He usually plays very close to the defensive line and, in the first match against West Ham, he was really a very big problem for us.

‘I think he is improving in the offensive phase. ‘He has improved during the season because I saw their last matches and I saw a very good midfielder.’

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