De Ligt advised to head for Barcelona or Man City where the defenders 'are not too good'

Ajax centre-half Matthijs de Ligt has been advised by Louis van Gaal to head for Barcelona or Manchester City this summer as the defenders there are not too good.

The highly-rated 19-year-old appears set to have the pick of Europe's top clubs in the next transfer window.

Alongside title-holding outfits from Spain and England, Goal has revealed that Serie A giants Juventus are ready to make a move.

Van Gaal admits De Ligt would be a shrewd addition for an ambitious Italian outfit, but feels the Netherlands international would find it easier to slot straight into starting XIs at Camp Nou or the Etihad Stadium.

The former Ajax, Barca and Manchester United boss told Ziggo Sport: De Ligt at Juventus? I think De Ligt can play in any competition.

In Italy, they are the masters of defence, so he can best develop there.

If I had the chance I would go to Barcelona.

They have central defenders who are not too good, so he will play there.

Or I would go to Manchester City. I don't think the central defenders are that great either, so he'll play there too.

With game time considered to be imperative for De Ligt's ongoing development, Van Gaal added on the choices faced by the current holder of the prestigious Golden Boy award: I think you should play at that age.

At Juventus they have [Leonardo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini. It is harder to push them out.

Barcelona and Manchester City also have international performers in their centre-half berths, but questions are being asked of stars at both clubs.

Samuel Umtiti is being linked with a possible move away from Catalunya, while Goal has revealed that Nicolas Otamendi is open to leaving reigning Premier League champions City in search of a new challenge.

De Ligt would be a suitable alternative to either a World Cup winner at Camp Nou or an experienced Argentine at the Etihad.

Many factors are likely to be taken into consideration before he makes a decision on his future, with it possible that a deal Barca already have in place with his Ajax team-mate Frenkie de Jong could sway the youngster towards choosing La Liga as his next port of call.