Arsenal considering bid for Ajax sensation Matthijs De Ligt | OneFootball

Arsenal have reportedly emerged as surprise candidates to sign Ajax wonderkid Matthijs De Ligt this summer.

The teenage defender has burst on to the scene in the past 12 months to become one of the most sought-after centre-backs in Europe.

Manchester City and Juventus have both been heavily linked with his signature but now a story in The Sun has claimed that the Gunners are also interested in landing the 19-year-old.

They state that De Ligt is a big admirer of the Emirates outfit and has been given good recommendations by Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars.

One major sticking point though is the price.

Arsenal reportedly only have €50m to spend over the summer, €30m short of Ajax’s valuation of De Ligt.

It means that should the Gunners try and land the defender they would have to ensure Champions League qualification and off-load Mesut Özil.

De Ligt has already played 59 times for the Amsterdam giant and captained them in last week’s defeat to Real Madrid.