Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars has said Barcelona's bid for Frenkie de Jong failed this summer because it was nowhere near what the midfielder is worth in today's market.
Sources told ESPN FC that Barca made two offers for the Netherlands international, with Ajax turning down both proposals. Mundo Deportivo report that the La Liga champions' second bid reached €30 million but was not even considered by Ajax.
"Barca did not value [De Jong], their offer did not correspond with Frenkie's qualities," Overmars told reporters at the Ajax Kick Off event.
Manchester City, Tottenham and Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in the De Jong, who made his international debut last week, and a new round of bidding is expected in January.
However, even if Barca do return with a bigger offer in January, Overmars insisted that Ajax will not be selling anyone in the middle of a campaign.
"[Barca] can try again for Frenkie in January if they want, but we won't sell any players midseason," he added.
De Jong, 21, has expressed a desire to play for Barcelona, saying "maybe" he will move to Camp Nou one day but has also said he will remain in Amsterdam this season.
Speaking in July, Overmars suggested a deal could be possible next summer "for the right price."
Barca maintain an interest in De Jong and are likely to return with an improved bid, if not in January, then next summer, while Paris Saint-Germain's Adrien Rabiot is also a target.
Rabiot is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and is free to negotiate with other clubs from January.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has been impressed with Rabiot since he took over the Ligue 1 club but said he has "no influence" over the player's contract situation.