Manchester City eyeing a surprise move for Champions League star: A gamble?

Manchester City are plotting a summer transfer move for Ajax attacker Dusan Tadic, it has been claimed.

The ex-Southampton flop has emerged as a shocking transfer target for Manchester City following his excellent performance against Real Madrid, according to Mundo Deportivo.

It is believed that the Sky Blues are willing to splash out £26 million for the services of Tadic in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Tadic has been in good form this season, and his incredible performance against Real Madrid to help Ajax knock the holders raised several eyebrows.

Dusan Tadic: A gamble by Manchester City

Tadic was always regarded as a mixed bag during his time at Southampton, largely due to the lack of consistency in his performances in the Premier League. But the Serbian international has finally found his feet after his return to the Netherlands, having scored 16 goals in just 23 matches in the Eredivisie this season.

Additionally, Tadic has registered seven assists, making him the third most productive attacker in the Dutch top flight so far. His movement and excellent vision have served Ajax quite well in the final third, which is rather evident from his excellent scoring record this season.

The 30-year-old has also impressed with his link-up play and combination with the likes of Hakim Ziyech and David Neres, helping Ajax become the most productive side in the Eredisivie this campaign.

Therefore, the addition of Tadic can certainly prove beneficial for Manchester City, who will look to add more depth to their attacking options in the summer as they aim to continue their dominance in English football.

But at the same time, the defending champions already boast the services of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva along with a host of other stars, who will all compete for a place in the first-team next season. Thus, it’s very unlikely that Tadic will receive regular playing time at the Etihad despite his impressive form in the Eredivisie this season.

Furthermore, at the age of 30, Tadic is nearing the final phase of his career and would not be a long-term attacking solution for Guardiola.

Therefore, Manchester City should be better advised to invest in other areas of the pitch, particularly in the holding midfield role, where Fernandinho has appeared as the only reliable option.

And with David Silva turning 34 in January next year, it would, perhaps, be wiser for Manchester City to drop their interest in Tadic, who would be an excellent addition to any mid-table club in the Premier League.