Matthijs de Ligt says 'it would be good' to play with Frenkie de Jong again next season as speculation over the centre-back's future continues.
De Jong, De Ligt's Ajax teammate, will line up for Barcelona next season after agreeing a move to the Camp Nou in January.
De Ligt is widely held as the most talented young centre-back in the world after captaining Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League this season.
The 19-year-old, who is reported to be on the radars of both Manchester United and Manchester City, won the Eredivisie player of the year award and hinted that Barcelona is his preferred destination this summer.
“I think he had a great season," he said when asked about De Jong, for whom he voted in the polling.
"He deserves to sign for Barcelona.
"Play with him there? It would be good to play with Frenkie at a club, but in these moments I don’t know what will happen.”
Jose Mourinho, the former United manager, was in the market for a centre-back last summer but saw his plans vetoed by the club's senior suits.
Current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning a squad over haul this summer, with a defender on his wishlist.
City, meanwhile, will be without Vincent Kompany next season after the captain announced he will leave the club at the end of his contract to take up a player-manager role at former club RSC Anderlecht.
Nicolas Otamendi could also leave the club in the hunt for more regular football.
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