Manchester City have been informed that a club transfer record sum of £75m would be to needed to pry Frenkie de Jong away from Ajax.
The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder has been on international duty for the Oranjes this week, winning his fourth and fifth caps in the win and draw against France and Germany that earned them progression to the UEFA Nations League finals next summer.
De Jong has been in formidable form for Ajax this season, scoring twice in 10 appearances for the Amsterdam side, and Man City have duly identified him as their principal target for the upcoming transfer windows.
However, according to the Mirror, the Citizens will need to exceed the £60m record fee that they dispensed with to sign Riyad Mahrez last summer if they are to secure the services of the precocious midfielder.
Pep Guardiola and co. see De Jong as the ideal long-term replacement for Fernandinho in the centre of their midfield, and are determined to land the youngster after missing out on Jorginho to Chelsea last time out.
However, it is understood that Barcelona are ardent admirers of the player, and are willing to better any offer produced by the Manchester team, or any of the other top clubs chasing the Ajax star.
The Dutch side can boast the upper hand in any negotiations for De Jong, though, thanks to his current deal not being due to expire until June 2022.
And while they can therefore demand a premium figure for the starlet, they are also ruling out any action this January, with the business, if it is to be conducted, done over the summer at the earliest.
Source : 90min