Barcelona Transfer Roundup: Catalan giants set to offer a five-year deal to De Ligt, Real Madrid set to battle Barcelona for Japanese sensation and more - April 14, 2019

Hello and welcome to the daily transfer news roundup for Barcelona!

Today's top stories feature Matthijs De Ligt, Take and Jovic. Here are the top transfer news and rumours of the day surrounding the Catalan giants!

De Ligt update

Sport reports that De Ligt already gave the green signal for the move and the Barcelona board are currently set to offer De Ligt a five-year deal till 2024.

Matthijs De Ligt is a product of the famed Ajax academy, which is one of the best in the world and has produced some all-time greats. Known for his superior defensive abilities, it is rare of a player at his age to lead a side.

After having already secured Frenkie De Jong, De Ligt's teammate, in the January transfer window, the Blaugrana hierarchy are speeding up negotiations to close the deal for De Ligt. The Catalan giants are confident that the Ajax defender will choose Barcelona, just like his teammate.

While Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu already admitted the club's interest on Ajax prodigy, another Dutch league player claimed that De Ligt hopes to join Barcelona.

Pol Llonch, who currently plays for Willem II, faced Ajax couple of weeks ago and revealed what he talked with De Ligt.

In an interview with Sport, Pol Llonch said,

“I asked him directly if he would end up signing for Barça and he told me that he hoped so, but that he didn't know anything at the moment. He said: 'I hope so.' I didn't speak with De Jong."

Moreover, Ajax coach, Ten Hag, claimed that De Ligt will join Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

“There is zero chance that De Ligt will continue at Ajax. There are too many clubs interested in him. He will leave us this summer, but I don't know if he will go to Bayern or Barcelona,” Ten Hag told German daily Süddeutsche according to AS."

According to the report, De Ligt will cost around €60 million. But as Barcelona is in pole position, Juventus will go for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.

If reports are to be believed, the Serie A giants are not interested to engage in a transfer battle with the Catalan giants, which is why Juventus will try to secure Samuel Umtiti.

Real Madrid and Barcelona battle for Japanese talent

SD Huesca v FC Barcelona - La Liga

According to a report from the Spanish media outlet Marca, Real Madrid and Barcelona are in a bidding war over Japanese prodigy, Takefusa Kubo.

Take is one of the teenagers who signed for Catalan giants in 2011 to play in the Under 17s. However, with a ban on signing underaged players in 2015, Barcelona were forced to release him on a free transfer. Take currently features for Japanese club FC Tokyo and will turn 18 this year.

According to reports, Barcelona are working desperately for his return but interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain keeps their pursuit harder. The player has reportedly had an agreement with Barcelona if he enters in Europe.

Real Madrid make Luka Jovic their prime target

According to fresh reports from Spanish media outlet Marca, Real Madrid made Luka Jovic their prime target. It is no secret that Catalan giants are also keen to secure the services of Serbian striker.

Jovic has proven himself to be an asset. The 21-year-old is one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga and the Europa League and has proved his calibre against the toughest of opponents.

Multiple reports state that both Barcelona and Los Blancos scouts were following Frankfurt against Benfica but Joao Felix stole the show.