Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt has stated he will consider his options at the end of the season.

The Dutchman has been handed the Golden Boy award for the most promising young player in Europe, and when asked about his plans for the future, the Dutch international said:

“At the end of the season I will consider if the time has come to make a step up For all the rest, you will need to ask my agent or my managers. I repeat, I’m focused on Ajax. And on the Golden Boy, of course.”

De Ligt has been heavily linked with Barcelona, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City in recent months.

Barca are believed to be the favourites to sign the 19-year-old, with reports in the Catalan media suggesting that the La Liga champions are lining up a €65m bid for the centre-back, and a €75m offer for his teammate Frenkie de Jong.

De Ligt has had a rapid rise, being named captain of Ajax despite being a teenager and only having made his senior debut just two years ago. He has also gone on to get his first cap for the Dutch national team and he is now firmly established as first-choice centre-back alongside Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.