Best Under-21 XI in the world right now

Centre-backs: Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax) and Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)

The Dutch international is linked with big money move to Spurs this summer

Matthijs de Ligt could be the next big star to come through the Ajax academy and the 18-year-old is already linked with a move £50 million move to Spurs in the summer. If he does move to Spurs, then he will follow in the footsteps of current Spurs stars Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez by playing for both clubs.

De Ligt made his debut for Ajax in in 2016 and marked the occasion by scoring a goal. Now, he has played 60 games for the Dutch giants and was named Ajax Talent of the Year in 2018.

He has also played 7 games for the Netherlands and could form a strong defensive partnership with Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij in the heart of the defence.

Upamecano is a key player at Leipzig

The other central defender in this list, Dayot Upamecano, would have probably been playing at the World Cup if he wasn’t French and fighting for a spot with the likes of Raphaël Varane, and Samuel Umtiti.

The 19-year-old signed for RB Leipzig in January 2017 after impressing for their sister club Red Bull Salzburg. He has played 49 games for the Bundesliga side since his move and was instrumental in helping them finish in a Champions League spot last season and in a Europa League spot this season.

Although he hasn’t played for the France senior team, Upamecano has played at the U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 level and won the 2015 U17 European Championship while also being named in the Team of the Tournament.

He has been linked with a move away from Leipzig recently with Barcelona rumoured to be interested in securing the signature of the strong, athletic, composed and technically brilliant defender. No surprises there.