There is a big chase on for Ajax youngster De Jong, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly rivalling La Liga champions Barcelona.
It is no secret that Pep Guardiola wants to take the pressure off his 33-year-old lynchpin Fernandinho.
Manchester City’s Premier League-winning manager spent the summer scouring the market for a deep-lying midfielder. But he missed out to rivals Chelsea and Manchester United for Jorginho and Fred respectively.
So perhaps it is a frustrated City, rather than Barcelona, who represent Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest obstacle in the race for Frenkie de Jong.
The £45 million-rated Ajax starlet is a man in demand, according to Mundo Deportivo. It is claimed that Barca are leading the chase as things stand but, with Mauricio Pochettino allegedly a huge fan of the 21-year-old, Tottenham could hijack the La Liga champions and make a move in January.
Manchester City are understood to be interested, too. De Jong, a technically gifted and versatile midfielder, certainly has the poise, intelligence and tactical awareness to provide back-up for Fernandinho at the base of City’s team.
And the worry for Spurs fans is that Guardiola’s all-conquering side have the funds to blow Daniel Levy out of the water if required.
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