Manchester City boss to sanction big money raid for Kompany successor

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is prepared to sanction a £50m move for Ajax youngster Matthijs de Ligt this summer, reports the Sunday Mirror. 

The 18-year-old centre-back is one of the hottest young talents on the continent and has previously been linked with a move to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Tottenham. 

City are now hoping to trump the trio in the race to sign De Ligt, who Guardiola views as the ideal successor for Vincent Kompany at the Etihad Stadium. 

Captain Kompany will lift the Premier League trophy today as City host Huddersfield, but the Belgian’s long-term fitness issues means Guardiola can’t consistently call upon the 32-year-old. 

Netherlands international De Ligt is now high on the club’s wishlist after an impressive season for Ajax, who finished second in the Eredivise this term. 

Guardiola is already able to call upon John Stones, who has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium, Aymeric Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi in defence, but the Spaniard is eager to land the ball playing teenage defender. 

Indeed, De Ligt ranks second for total passes (2000) in the Eredivisie this season, reinforcing a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘passing’.