Manchester City linked with Dutch defensive gem: Why they should go all out

Manchester City are among the clubs interested in the services of Matthijs de Ligt; it has been claimed.

The Ajax sensation has recently opened up about his future amid rumours linking him to a move away from the Netherlands in the summer – as reported by Manchester Evening News.

Manchester City are one of the clubs keen to secure the services of the young defender, who has also courted the interest of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea from England.

Matthijs de Ligt: Just who Guardiola needs

Despite stiff competition from Liverpool, it’s probably fair to say that Manchester City have maintained their unbridled perfection under Pep Guardiola this season.

However, the Catalan mastermind is still likely to invest big in the upcoming summer transfer window, especially in the defensive department. Veteran defender Vincent Kompany, in particular, is nearing the final phase of his career while Nicolas Otamendi seems to be on his way out.

Therefore, de Ligt is certainly a viable target for Manchester City as they look to add to their defensive options in the summer.

Aged just 19, de Ligt is already regarded as one of Europe’s best defenders, having eclipsed his performance last season with a series of consistent displays for his club this campaign.

What has made the youngster such an appealing target for big clubs across Europe is that he has been able to perform at the top level, not only in the Eredivisie but also in the Champions League. In fact, the 19-year-old has been a key component in the Ajax backline, who are now tipped as the favourites to reach the final after beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the first leg.

As far as his gameplay is concerned, de Ligt epitomises the role of a modern-day centre-half, largely thanks to his sublime passing qualities. He has attained an impressive pass completion rate of 89% in the Eredivisie this season.

But, de Ligt’s qualities are not only restricted to building the play up from the back as the youngster is also proficient in dispatching long diagonal balls, which is swiftly becoming the hallmark of a complete defensive player helping the immediate transition of play from defence to attack.

Additionally, the Ajax superstar is a tactically astute defender, whose excellent positional sense could make him a tailor-made fit for Guardiola’s Juego de posicion style of play. And at the age of 19, he could be a smart long-term investment for the Premier League champions as they look to maintain their dominance in the Premier League.