Liverpool and Real Madrid are set to battle for promising Dutch centre-back and Ajax sensation Youri Baas ahead of next summer.

According to Fichajes, Liverpool and Real Madrid are set to battle for Dutch centre-back Youri Baas next summer. The 22-year-old highly-rated Dutch prospect from Ajax is garnering rave reviews, with a switch to a bigger team likely to be on his personal agenda in the near future.

Youri Baas had his breakthrough season with Ajax in 2024-25, making 23 league appearances and proving himself as one of their best stars around. The defender is already garnering rave reviews for his displays for the Dutch giants, with some of the big teams already looking at him ahead of next summer.

Liverpool are interested in Baas, and so are Real Madrid, with the two European giants likely to battle for his signature next summer. The prospect of joining a big team in the near future should be high on the 22-year-old, highly-rated Dutch prospect’s agenda, as he could have more than these two clubs in the mix.

Starting with Real Madrid, they are building a squad more in line of how new boss Xabi Alonso wants, which includes some strong defensive options. This summer, they signed Dean Huijsen, and they are already concentrating on Ibrahima Konate ahead of next summer.

Konate has already told Liverpool of his decision not to renew, as per reports, and Real Madrid is his likely destination. However, Baas is not seen as an alternative to the Frenchman but more as a strategic investment for the future, such as Huijsen.

Liverpool are keen on Youri Baas

Liverpool are also interested in Baas, as they are keen to build a solid defensive base for the future. They also added Giovanni Leoni in the summer as a young and promising centre-back from Parma, although they might look at Baas as a potential long-term replacement for his compatriot Virgil van Dijk.

As for Ajax, they are not expected to let go of their 22-year-old highly-rated Dutch prospect lightly, given the defender is tied there until 2028. Hence, one might expect the Amsterdam giants could demand a significant fee in line with some of the promising defensive prospects they have sold in recent years, such as Jurrien Timber and Jorrel Hato.