Manchester City are overstocked with central midfielders (Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri), but Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail says Pep Guardiola is ‘eyeing’ another – Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong.
The 24-year-old snubbed City for Barcelona in 2019 when he was still an Ajax player, but De Jong could be coming to the Etihad Stadium if Guardiola has his wish. The Daily Mail say Barca might be forced to sell because of financial constraints, so a move isn’t impossible.
De Jong has made 137 appearances in all competitions for the Catalans, scoring 13 goals with 17 assists. He’s been a regular under Xavi this season and is a player Barca want to keep. The club paid €75m (£64.2m) for him in 2019, so it’s unlikely they would let him go for any less.
City are being ambitious in the transfer market, all but agreeing a deal with Borussia Dortmund for Erling Haaland and bringing Julian Alvarez in from River Plate, but Guardiola believes his midfield needs improving.
Fernandinho has announced he will leave when his contract expires, but De Jong wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement. A specific defensive-midfielder and ball-winner might be brought in for the Brazilian.
In other news, Paul Merson says Man City man has uncertain future after ‘difficult’ season