Manchester City enter race for Spurs target Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax.
Manchester City are the latest club to show interest in Ajax youngster Matthijs de Ligt, with the Guardian reporting they view the defender as the ideal long term replacement for captain Vincent Kompany.
Citizens manager Pep Guardiola has concerns over the fitness issues that have plagued Kompany’s career and wants to find a younger option to take his place in the side.
The City skipper is about to enter the final year of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium and although that could be extended, there are no guarantees for the 32-year-old.
Guardiola will assess how much game time he can give de Ligt before making a move with Aymeric Laporte, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones already other centre-back options for the Premier League champions.
Bad news for Spurs?
This will come as a blow to Tottenham Hotspur, who as football.london reports have held an interest in the 18-year-old for some time.
Barcelona and Manchester United have also been monitoring de Ligt, but it was thought that Tottenham’s good relationship with Ajax – having bought Christian Eriksen, Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen from there in recent time – would give them the edge.
However, a switch to work under Guardiola at the current best side in England could prove tempting for the Netherlands international.
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