Transfer Centre

Barcelona to use Jean-Clair Todibo in Matthijs de Ligt deal?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 25 March 2019

Barcelona to use Todibo in De Ligt deal?

Barcelona are reportedly considering offering Jean-Clair Todibo on loan to Ajax in order to secure the signature of Matthijs de Ligt, who has also been linked to Liverpool.

Barcelona are reportedly willing to use Jean-Clair Todibo in any deal to bring Matthijs de Ligt to the club when the transfer window reopens.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu is understood to be in Amsterdam, where he will undergo talks with Ajax and De Ligt over a summer move to Camp Nou.

Liverpool and Juventus have also been heavily linked with an interest in the Ajax captain, but Barcelona are leading the race for his signature having already agreed a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from the Dutch outfit.

De Ligt is expected to cost around £64m, but Sport reports that Barcelona are considering offering Todibo on loan in an attempt to reduce that fee and convince Ajax to sell to them rather than any other interested parties.

Ajax are understood to be open to the idea of signing Todibo on loan, with the temporary deal potentially lasting longer than a single season if it reduces the cost of the De Ligt transfer.

Barcelona, meanwhile, believe that the 19-year-old French centre-back - who only joined the club in January - would benefit from regular first-team football at a club like Ajax.

The two clubs enjoy a positive relationship at boardroom level, and reports have even suggested that they could enter a partnership which would see Barca send players on loan to Ajax if they get first refusal on their talented youngsters.