Manchester City face competition from Barcelona for January target

Manchester City are already eyeing up potential prospects for the transfer window in the New Year, however one target is gaining more European attention.

Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who moved to the 2017/18 Eredivisie runners-up two years ago, is on the radar of Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and City’s English rivals Tottenham. While Ajax are set to be stringent on his asking price, Manchester City have the financial means to beat out circling opponents.

City’s summer transfer business was smart rather than spectacular, with the acquisition of Riyad Mahrez by far the most lauded transfer. Pep Guardiola also brought in youngsters Philippe Sandler and Daniel Arzani, in more low-key deals, and the free-spending Catalan is surely rejuvenating his antenna as the January transfer window nears.

Frenkie de Jong could be the midfielder Guardiola has been looking for, too. Ajax are known to have one of the best youth setups in European football, hence why many of their products are swiped from them long before they have reached their peak. Christian Eriksen and Luis Suarez are the latest examples, and the amount of attention de Jong is getting suggests he is inevitably on his way out of the Netherlands too.

Manchester City agonisingly missed out on Jorginho in the summer, and despite rumours of the Sky Blues preparing to land a shock transfer for an esteemed midfielder such as Miralem Pjanic or Thiago Alcantara, nothing crystallised.

But if City want to secure Frenkie de Jong’s services, they should prepare for an arduous battle with several juggernauts. Tottenham didn’t spend at all in the summer, and are likely to be the most willing club to meet Ajax’s demands.

The likes of Barcelona and PSG needn’t worry about how much they’ve spent, and re-emerging clubs Borussia Dortmund and Roma sit as the improbable dark horses to clinch the Dutchman’s signature.

If City lose out to any of those clubs, it is by no means the end of the world. Guardiola will have a number of targets for January should the Sky Blues need reinforcements.

Will Frenkie de Jong become a Manchester City player?