Manchester City Keen To Sign £50m-Rated Ajax Sensation: Should Pep Give The Go-ahead?

According to reports, recently crowned Premier League champions Manchester City look favourites to sign Ajax wonderkid Matthijs de Ligt amidst interest from several other PL rivals including Arsenal.

Matthijs de Ligt has been one of the rising stars in European football this season, playing a prominent role in the Ajax backline this campaign. His impressive performances in the Dutch Eredivisie has attracted the interest of a host of top European clubs. Ajax recently slapped a £50million valuation on the youngster, who has been labelled as the next big thing in Dutch football.

His current contract with the Dutch giants expires in 2021 but amidst this huge interest from a host of European clubs, the youngster looks destined for a big-money move in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Manchester City, in particular, looks all set to secure the services of the prized defender this summer as Pep Guardiola looks to strengthen his defence in order to further solidify their dominance in English football.

Even though the Sky Blues have recently been crowned as Premier League champions, Pep Guardiola has always been a man of perfection. Man City’s defence has often cost them key points, especially in the final stage of the season. Therefore, the Catalan will be desperate to add some more steel in the backline next season.

Club captain Vincent Kompany has performed well but considering his injury-prone nature coupled with the fact that he’s already in the final phase of his career, the Citizens should definitely look to strengthen their defence this summer.

The addition of Matthijs de Ligt would be a good start for the Manchester giants despite the acquisition of Athletic Bilbao’s star defender Aymeric Laporte.

The youngster can be ideal for Pep Guardiola’s Juego de posicion system, which focuses on gaining a clever numerical advantage by set patterns of movements. Therefore, Ajax’s possession-based style, which is largely synonymous to that of Pep Guardiola, will make it easier for the 18-year-old year old to integrate himself at Manchester City.

Furthermore, de Ligt could also add some valuable depth in the defensive department for Manchester City considering their ambitious long-term plans.

The 18-year-old has already shown immense talent in the Dutch top-flight and it’s only a matter of time before he makes the next big step in his career. With Pep Guardiola’s ingenuity, the youngster can easily evolve as one of the most imposing centre-backs in a couple of years!