Premier League champions Manchester City are monitoring 21-year-old Ajax starlet, Frenkie de Jong, according to a Daily Mail report.
The English club are under fire from FIFA, UEFA and the Premier League for alleged breaches of both third-party ownership and financial fair play regulations.
Despite these investigations, City’s hierarchy are ploughing ahead with their plans for the 2019 transfer windows.
The defensive midfielder is understood to prefer a move to the Etihad as opposed to City’s neighbours, Manchester United, who are also showing an interest in the Netherlands international.
De Jong attracted a lot of attention during 2017-18, his first full season in Ajax’s colours. The season previous, de Jong starred for Jong Ajax and made a brief cameo in the Dutch club’s 2 – 0 defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League final. His performances saw him named Jupiler League Talent of the Season.
City are looking for a long-term replacement for Brazilian Fernandinho. The 33-year-old is under contract until 2020 but Pep Guardiola is keen to bring his successor into the club sooner rather than later.
Ajax are expected to cash in on de Jong’s talent next summer as well as that of Matthijs de Ligt, 18, who is also attracting City’s attention. The young centre-back, however, is understood to prefer a move to Barcelona.
