Barcelona scout Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt

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Bengaluru, March 22: Barcelona have reportedly sent scouts to keep an eye on Holland defender Matthijs de Ligt when he lines up against England in an international friendly.

The Ajax centre-back, 18, is one of Europe’s most highly rated youngsters and Barcelona have been keen on him since January.

Mundo Deportivo report the Catalan club were going to make a move for him in the winter window but put all their efforts into the £145million signing of Philippe Coutinho.

But they will have scouts watching De Ligt on international duty as the prepare to make a move for him in the summer.

Holland host Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions on Friday (March 23) night before travelling to Switzerland to take on Portugal next week.

And that could mean De Ligt, who has also been linked with both Manchester clubs and Arsenal, will be given a true test against Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Blaugrana scouting department see De Ligt as a solid replacement for if Thomas Vermaelen, 32, or Yerry Mina, 23, quit the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

Vermaelen’s Barca career has never really got going after suffering from a number of injuries since joining from Arsenal in 2014.

Mina is struggling to become a first choice centre back ahead of Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti after making just two appearances since his move from Palmeiras two months ago.

De Ligt is under contract at the Amsterdam Arena until 2021 and Ajax would be able to demand a hefty fee for the promising teenager.

The 18-year-old is a ball-playing defender by trade and is similar to club legend Gerard Pique in many ways. With age on his side, he can improve a lot and become a star at Camp Nou for many years to come.