PSG reportedly out to stop Man City & Barcelona sealing major January statement signing

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The Ajax and Dutch international Frenkie de Jong has long been held in high regard as one of the most talented young players in world football. 

His performances in the famous red and white strip of Ajax have invited some of the Europe’s giants to sit up and take notice.

In 2016/17, as the senior side made it to the Europa League final, De Jong was playing mainly for the Jong Ajax side and was named Jupiler League Talent of the Season.

Since then, despite being aged just 21, he has become a key member of Ajax’s first-team and emerged as a first-choice midfielder for Ronald Koeman’s resurgent Netherlands side.

“It’s difficult to say what will happen,” De Jong told the Guardian (via beIN sports) “I want to finish this season well with Ajax. Then we will see.

“Maybe I’ll stay for another year, maybe I’ll leave. But I am not sure.”

If he decides to leave, where will he go?

Here are some options for De Jong to consider and the four most likely contenders for his signature.

Dream – Barcelona

Johan Cruyff, Ronald Koeman, Frank de Boer, Phillip Cocu, Patrick Kluivert, and Marc Overmars are just some of the many great Dutch players who have gone on to forge fantastic careers at the famous Catalan club.

De Jong would be joining a long legacy of Dutchman if he decided to move to Camp Nou, with his presence in the Barcelona starting eleven surely a benefit to both parties.

If recent reports are accurate, Barcelona are considering a double swoop for both de Jong and talented defender Matthijs de Ligt which would mean the talented playmaker would have at least one familiar face at the training ground.

The 21-year-old would signal a return to the possessional play fans crave – he currently has a pass success rate of 91.3% in Eredivisie this campaign and has been unsuccessful with just seven of his 85 take-on attempts in the Eredivisie.

An opportunity to work with Lionel Messi will also be an attraction. De Jong has publically admired the Barcelona captain, previously stating that: “It really doesn’t need any explanation. Messi is way better than Ronaldo.”

With Barcelona constantly competing at the highest level across both domestic and European football, the temptation of following in the footsteps of Cruyff and co. in red and blue too tempting?

Realistic – Paris Saint-Germain

The oil-rich French club could certainly finance the move that would see De Jong swap Ajax for France’s capital.

It has been heavily rumoured of late that a deal between the two parties is all-but sealed, with Dutch paper Der Telegraaf reporting that a proposed fee of  €75m (£66.87m) has been agreed. 

You could understand if De Jong decides to strut his stuff at Parc des Princes next season. Although it’s on December, PSG already look set to claim another Ligue 1 title this year, with Thomas Tuchel’s men 14 points clear at the top of the table, unbeaten in 16 matches, winning 14.

Tuchel’s side also boasts the talents of Neymar, Edinson Cavani and, of course, wonderkid Kylian Mbappe, who has come out in support of the potential move.

“He is a player who really impressed me during our two matches with the Netherlands,” Mbappe told France Football.

“His vision and the quality of his passing that breaks the lines make him very valuable, especially because he also intercepts a considerable amount of balls.

“Honestly, he is very welcome in Paris! I said to him as much, because he would be enormous for us. After that, he will make his own choice.”

 A guaranteed Champions League place each season, endless titles and a real chance to perform on a bigger platform; a great move if it can be done.

Wildcard – Manchester City

“I love this style. Get the ball back quickly, then play possession with so many combinations,” De Jong said.

“When you watch that, you get the feeling you want to go out on the pitch and play football with your friends and just enjoy yourself. City and Barcelona are great examples.”

There we go City fans, De Jong has spoken. His admiration for Pep Guardiola’s side is hardly shocking. They are a club who are playing some of the best football ever produced in the blue half of Manchester.

A player of De Jong’s talent would fit straight into the city line-up, with his movement complimenting the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and his eye for a pass setting up both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus on a regular basis.

Guardiola missed out on the signing of Jorginho this summer as he reunited with former manager Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea, so the pursuit of a new No.6 to lighten the load of Fernandinho will remain a priority.

The Ajax marvel also possesses the talent to play as one of City’s ‘free eights’, providing the versatility that an injury-prone Ilkay Gundogan currently offers the side.

There aren’t many better environments to progress as a footballer – ask Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and most recently Riyad Mahrez – it is now simply a case of whether City are prepared to pay for the privilege.

Squawka suggests – Bayern Munich

It says something about De Jong’s current and potential ability that every team on this list is a reigning league champion in their respective countries.

That being said, Bayern are way off the pace this season and currently find themselves nine points off league leaders Borussia Dortmund after 13 matches.

To say the club are going through a transitional period would be an understatement. New manager Niko Kovač is struggling to adapt and to organise a side which is filled with players on a rapid decline.

Arjen Robben has confirmed his departure in the summer and most recently Javi Martinez has been linked with a move away from the German giants.

With talented midfield duo of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, Bayern already have two of the most talented young midfielders in the world.

Add De Jong to that list, with Renato Sanches and the slightly more experienced Thiago playing too, the next generation at Bayern may only be one signing away.

The post Dream, realistic, wildcard, Squawka suggests: where will Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong move to next? appeared first on Squawka News.



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