Barcelona are watching Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

The Dutch teen is regarded the best young player to emerge in the Eredivisie for some years.

Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have been scouting De Ligt intensively over the past year, though Barca are counting on an advantage.

Barca are banking on their relationship with their former star Marc Overmars to stay up to date on De Ligt's situation, says El Mundo Deportivo.

Ajax sports chief Overmars played for four years with Barca and is close to president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Indeed, he visited the Nou Camp for strategy talks with Barca officials just last month.