5 midfielders Barcelona can target instead of Paul Pogba

#3 Frenkie De Jong (Ajax Amsterdam)

The Dutch midfielder would represent a return to Cryuff's principles

One youngster who has been linked many times with a move to Catalunya, the young Dutchman is still very much an under-the-radar prospect.

A graduate of Willem II’s academy, the 21-year-old has in a very short time become integral for the fallen Dutch giants. Operating as a regista (deep-lying playmaker), De Jong is the builder-from-the-back, a highly revered position in Dutch football.

He has the intelligence to know when to carry the ball forward to evade the pressing of the opposition. He is also aware enough to know when to pass conservatively to slow down the tempo to help teammates recover or pass forward to start attacks/counter attacks.

An excellent trait of his which would serve him well is his ability to drop into the centre of the defence and make it a flat back three whenever the fullbacks push on. This makes him the perfect long-term replacement for the magnificent Busquets.

He can also be fielded alongside the Spanish international as he can carry the ball forward like the best of them and possesses a range of passing that could rival those of more experienced central midfielders.

While Barca has made moves to get him to Spain, Ajax has resisted due to its UEFA Champions League qualifiers. The Blaugrana would dearly love to get him into the team now to continue the regeneration work currently happening at the club. However, a rather pricey €50 million has been quoted for the youngster who could represent better long-term value than even a World Cup winner like Pogba.