3 alternatives Barcelona can consider should they miss out on Matthijs de Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt, the 19-year-old prodigy from Ajax is one of the hottest prospects in Europe at the moment. A fantastic season with his club and country have placed him on the most wanted list of some of the biggest clubs in the world, with the likes of Juventus, Manchester United, Real Madrid and of course longtime admirers Barcelona ready to go all in for him.

He is represented by the notorious agent Mino Raiola, who is known for cutting the best deal for his clients with some of the elite European clubs. With new reports emerging every single day regarding the future of de Godenzonen captain, Barcelona who've already signed his teammate Frenkie de Jong, might want to look at some alternatives just in case he decides to snub the Spanish club for glory somewhere else.

It is no secret that Ernesto Valverde definitely wants to sign a young center-back before the new season gets underway as a long term replacement for Gerard Pique and with the €70 million-rated center-back moving away from their reach it is time they consider some alternatives to him.

Luckily for The Catalans, there are some top defenders that might make Barcelona's defense the best in Spanish top-flight. Here we take a look at three defenders that will be a perfect fit for Blaugrana, if they are snubbed by De Ligt.

#1 Alessio Romagnoli

The AC Milan captain, is finally living upto the huge expectations that were placed upon him since a young age. He has blossomed into a solid center-back, who is quick on his feet, strong in the air and has a good understanding of the game.

Under his leadership Milan's defense conceded 36 goals last season, meaning they conceded less than one goal per match and had the third-best defensive record across the Italian top-flight.

Romagnoli also contributed two goals in the season that saw them qualify for the Europa League.

Though he is yet a far cry from the legendary Alessandro Nesta he often draws comparisons with, under the guidance of Valverde and sharing a dressing room with one of the best in the games in Pique, there is no doubt he'll blossom into one of the best in the world.

At 24 years of age, he is now cemented his place in his national side and brings a lot more experience than De Ligt, that too at almost half the price for the young Dutch defender.

#2 Milan Skriniar

A player really has got to have some special talent to be linked with Manchester United, Manchester City and even Real Madrid. Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar is one of such exceptionally gifted players, who just shines in his natural center-back position.

The 24-year-old had a very successful debut season with Nerazzurri, as his key defensive contributions and 4 goals saw Inter return to the UEFA Champions League after a hiatus of six seasons.

This season he was the mainstay of his club's defense that had the second best defensive record in the Serie A and yet again qualified for the Champions League.

Coming to his individual abilities, he is one of the best defenders in the world in one-on-one situations, has an imposing physical presence on the field and is quick with his feet, a quality that allows him to cover ground at crucial moments.

His excellent positioning and good use of the ball when in possession make him an invaluable asset to his club and national side as well. That's what will make him an ideal signing for Barcelona, who require a player just like him at the heart of their defense, who is calm and can create opportunities going forward with the ball.

#3 Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahim Konate has been touted as one of the rising stars of Bundesliga, with his performances at the heart of RB Leipzig's defense this season, exceeding what is expected from a 19-year-old player.

The French national is a naturally gifted athlete, having an imposing physique standing 6 ft 4 inches tall and blessed with lightning quick feet. He is also good when in possession with a dribbling success rate of just under 85% making him one of the best defender in that space.

In his 28 league appearances, the center-back won over 64 per cent of his challenges and completed 83 per cent of his passes, while he also popped up with a goal and an assist too.

He was a key player throughout the season for Die Roten Bullen as they finished the season with the best defensive record in Bundesliga.

He is very young, but still has managed to get a pretty decent amount of playtime at the highest level to his name and a move to the Nou Camp will see him become one of the best in the business, following the footsteps of compatriot Samuel Umtiti, who has enjoyed a decent spell with The Catalans.

Though he signed a new deal with Leipzig this January, if the pressure from Barca is enough, it is more than likely that the player who is eventually bound to move out of Germany, may end up at the Spanish club. He will undoubtedly provide Barcelona a very reasonable alternative to the young man they've been chasing for the better part of the season now.

Edited by Ribhu .