Virgil van Dijk says Matthijs de Ligt is a 'fantastic player' as speculation over the Ajax captain's future intensifies.
Manchester United are keen on a move for the 19-year-old but face competition from Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
De Ligt, who led Ajax to the Champions League semi-final last season, is expected to make a decision on his future at the conclusion of this summer's Nations League.
And Van Dijk, the Liverpool centre-back who partners De Ligt for the Netherlands, says the youngster is among the best in the business.
"I think Matthijs is a fantastic player," he said. "And any decision he makes will be the right one for him."
De Ligt is of the profile of player around whom United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer intends to rebuild the Reds this summer, with the Norwegian targeting young, hungry players.
United are closing in on a move for Daniel James, the Swansea winger, while Newcastle's Sean Longstaff is also thought to be of interest at Old Trafford.
It comes after Solskjaer said he will target players with 'a certain kind of attitude' this summer.
"We’ve tried to educate our players and our kids to be proper people," he said last month. "In my view, the best players have always been the best people.
"You have to have that value system and a certain kind of attitude about you to make a Man United player.
"You have got to have the qualities and our fans want to see exciting players. Of course we want to get up from our seats. We want to see defenders who defend like they’re doing it for their lives – that’s the most important thing."
