Arsenal transfer plans blown apart by Ajax heroics at Real Madrid as Barcelona turn attention to Gunners defensive target De Ligt

SunSport exclusively revealed last month that the Gunners were monitoring his progress in Holland ahead of a possible summer switch.

Arsenal legend Marc Overmars – Ajax's current director of football – recently claimed that it's only a matter of time before the 19-year-old joins a top side.

Reports have previously stated that De Ligt "expects" to sign for the Catalan club, with it understood that he has his heart set on playing at the Nou Camp.

And should he make the move to Barca, he would link up with team-mate Frenkie De Jong, who joins Ernesto Valverde's side at the end of the season for £65million.

Speaking to SER Radio, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed he has given his club the green light to lure the Dutch international to Spain.

He said: "We have to talk about it from March [signing De Ligt], which is when we take the decisions, but his name is on the table, of course."

The Ajax captain – who won the prestigious Golden Boy award last year – has starred for Erik ten Hag's side this campaign, where he helped the Eredivisie outfit knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League on Tuesday.

De Ligt is believed to be valued at around £70m – which would mean he would be too expensive for Arsenal.

It has been claimed that Unai Emery only has £40m to spend in the summer, but he could be given more should he guide his club into the Champions League.

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