Barcelona urged to beat Everton for Ajax starlet Davinson Sanchez

Barcelona have been urged to beat Everton for the signing of Ajax starlet Davinson Sanchez by former Johan Cruyff's right-hand man Tonny Bruins Slot. The Dutchman revealed that Ronald Koeman is a big admirer of the Colombian and only work permit issues have prevented the boss for luring the centre-back to Goodison Park.

The Colombian defender was already heavily linked with a move to Barcelona during the summer transfer window after he garnered a promising reputation in his homeland playing for Atletico Nacional. However, it was said that the 20-year-old opted to move to Ajax at the very last minute instead because the Catalans only wanted him for the second team.

Sanchez has since enjoyed an impressive start to the life at Ajax, beginning the campaign with the reserves before becoming into a key player for the first-team.

Barcelona signed Samuel Umtiti during the summer transfer window but are still reportedly on the market for another young centre-back following the departures of both Marc Bartra and Thomas Vermaelen.

Sanchez compatriot Yerry Mina and Atletico Madrid's Lucas Hernandez have been linked with a move to the Nou Camp in recent weeks after Luis Enrique has been hit by a number of injuries in the position during the first part of the season, having forced to play the last games with only Javier Mascherano and Samuel Umtiti due to the absences of Gerard Pique and Jeremy Mathieu.

But Bruins Slot, who is currently working as scout and transfer advisor for Ajax, believes that Sanchez would be the perfect fit for Barcelona's passing game style.

"Barça, do not miss Davinson Sanchez. He is very good, he is made for Luis Enrique's team style," Bruins Slot said to Mundo Deportivo. "He is fast and strong as it was Carles Puyol but the best thing for Barcelona is that he shapes the game from the back even better than Gerard Pique. And he's only 20-year-old."

"It is not a secret that Barça is following Davinson Sánchez, they have been repeatedly observing him, from (Technical secretary) Robert Fernandez to his more direct collaborators. They do well but they are being slow to make a decision."

Bruins Slot was Cruyff's long-time assistant both at Ajax and Barcelona in the 1990s. Then, once the legendary manager retired, the Dutchman joined Koeman in his different tenures at Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar.

The Ajax scout still has a good relationship with the current Everton boss and reveals that the he has contacted him a number of times to express his interests in Sanchez, with only work permit issues hampering his move to Goodison Park.

"Barca are lucky because, otherwise, Davinson Sanchez would already be playing at Everton under Ronald Koeman, who is excited about the guy as confirmed by me personally on several occasions. Barcelona's luck is that he has not yet played sufficient games (for the Colombian national team) to meet the requirements for a club in the Premier League. If not for that, the club would have already lost him."