Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are closing in on the signing of Noussair Mazraoui after Premier League duo Arsenal and Leeds United scouted the Ajax star, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
Barcelona have snapped up two highly talented young players from the Johann Cruyff Arena since the summer of 2019; Sergino Dest and Frenkie de Jong.
For a while at least, it seemed only a matter of time before Barca completed a trilogy.
Xavi Hernandez’s rapidly-improving side tabled a contract offer to Mazraoui a couple of weeks ago.
De Jong, meanwhile, was on the charm offensive when asked about the prospect of a former Ajax team-mate reuniting with him in Catalonia, describing the rampaging right-back as a ‘great player’.
He’s certainly living up to De Jong’s billing in the Dutch capital.
With five goals, four assists and a stunning long-range winner against Eredivisie title-rivals PSV Eindhoven, Mazraoui is playing the best football of his career at Ajax.
And, with the Morocco international confirming already that he plans to follow Dest, De Jong, Matthias de Ligt, Hakim Ziyech and co out the door when his contract expires in May, you won’t be surprised to learn that Barcelona weren’t the only club keeping tabs on Mazraoui.
Is Noussair Mazraoui leaving Ajax for Bayern Munich?
According to ESPN, Premier League duo Leeds United and Arsenal have scouted the 24-year-old this season.
Mazraoui is one of a number of talented young right-backs linked with an Arsenal side who look set to sell Hector Bellerin in the summer. His agent, Mino Raiola, has also held talks with Roma.
Now, however, the smart money is on Bayern Munich winning the race instead.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side are ‘very close’ to sealing a deal, having blown the likes of Barcelona and Roma out the water with a substantial offer for the soon-to-be free-agent.
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“If you can survive in the Champions League with Ajax, you can do the same in the Bundesliga,” Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag told Sport1 this week when asked about Mazraoui’s potential switch to the Allianz Arena.
“I’m sure that the two guys (Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch) could perform well in the Bundesliga.”
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