Report: Barcelona on verge of signing De Ligt for around €80M

One Dutch wunderkind down, one to go.

Barcelona are nearing an agreement to sign in-demand Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, sources told Moises Llorens and Sam Marsden of ESPN FC.

The 19-year-old star, who scored the decisive goal that eliminated Juventus and sent his side through to the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday, is expected to cost somewhere close to €80 million, Llorens and Marsden added.

Both Juve and Bayern Munich are keen to add De Ligt, but sources close to the Catalan club told Llorens and Marsden that the situation is "under control," adding that the teenage phenom "only wants to listen to Barcelona."

If any other teams threaten to pip Barca to a deal, Ajax will "warn" their Spanish peers in advance, according to the report.

Should the Blaugrana secure the signing of the Ajax captain, he'd join current teammate Frenkie de Jong at the Camp Nou next season. Barca brokered a €75-million move for the slick midfielder in January, beating a host of Europe's top sides - most notably Paris Saint-Germain - to his signature.

In Catalonia, De Ligt would add to an already impressive crop of central defenders at Ernesto Valverde's disposal. Longstanding stalwart Gerard Pique is the backbone of the squad, while Frenchmen Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are 23 and 25 years old, respectively. Much is also expected of French teenager Jean-Clair Todibo, who joined the reigning La Liga champions in January.

Regardless, De Ligt is viewed as a generational talent. If one of the aforementioned Frenchmen needs to be shipped out to facilitate his arrival, it's a trade-off the Barca brass would almost certainly accept without hesitation.