Manchester City Quoted £75 Million In Battle To Sign Frenkie De Jong

Pep Guardiola is going to have to break Manchester City's transfer record once again if he is to beat Barcelona to the signing of Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong to replace Fernandinho.

Manchester City's squad is packed full of star talent with Sergio Aguero, Silva brothers David and Bernardo, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne constantly delighting City fans, Pep Guardiola and even the odd neutral.

Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy are hardly defensive fullbacks, centre backs John Stones and Aymeric Laporte as well as goalkeeper Edison even join in with starting attacks.

The one man who is probably underrated by those outside of the team though is Fernandinho. The Brazilian has been a mainstay of the squad since joining in 2013 and won two Premier League titles.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder turns 34 at the end of the season and Guardiola will need to replace him in the not to distant future. It won't be easy, or cheap, to replace such an integral member of the side.

Guardiola's top target is reportedly Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong. According to the Daily Mirror the Dutchman would cost City £75 million, meaning they'd have to break their transfer record.

De Jong has impressed for Ajax and Netherlands. Image: PA Images

At the moment Riyad Mahrez's move from Leicester City, which cost £60 million, is City's record transfer fee but De Jong would easily top that.

The manager had originally wanted Jorginho to sign in the summer, and it looked pretty certain to happen, but Maurizzio Sarri's move to Chelsea saw the Italian choose to follow his Napoli boss to England.

Signing De Jong won't be that easy with both Barcelona and PSG interested but the Etihad club are apparently in the driving seat to sign him.

Ajax don't want to sell the 21 year old in January and will try to hold off until the summer until they listen to offers for their latest academy made talent picking up interest from Europe's elite.

With City's cash, success and need to replace Fernandinho it feels like only a matter of time until this transfer gets completed.

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Barcelona, Dutch football, Premier League, Ajax, Transfer news, Frenkie De Jong

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

@Sidler28