Transfer Centre

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag : 'Zero chance of Matthijs de Ligt stay'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 12 April 2019

Erik ten Hag admits Ajax will lose Matthijs de Ligt this summer but is unsure which club he will join, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona among the sides interested.

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has conceded that his side have "zero chance" of retaining the services of captain Matthijs de Ligt.

The Dutch centre-back is not short of suitors across the continent after starring for Ajax in the Eredivisie and Champions League this term.

De Ligt recently spoke about the possibility of joining Juventus, where he would get the chance to learn from 'inspirational' defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, while Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has hinted that an agreement may be in place.

With Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also rumoured to be in for the youngster, Ten Hag admits that it is certain he will depart this summer.

"There is zero chance that De Ligt will continue at Ajax," he told told German daily Suddeutsche. "There are too many clubs interested in him. He will leave us this summer, but I do not know if he will go to Bayern or Barcelona."

Ajax will also lose midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona at the end of the season, with a £65m deal being agreed.