Ajax slap staggering asking price on Manchester City target

Manchester City risk paying over the odds if they want to sign top transfer target Frankie de Jong in January as Ajax increase their asking price to €100m (£88.5m), claims The Daily Record.

Pep Guardiola ruled out dipping into the transfer market in January on Friday but the Premier League leaders are tracking Ajax duo De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt.

City failed to sign a long-term replacement for Fernandinho in the summer and have earmarked De Jong as a top target over the next two transfer windows.

Barcelona are also interested in both Ajax prospects but have reportedly conceded defeat to City in the race to prise De Jong to Spain.

It wasn’t long ago that City were linked with a £40m move for the Netherlands international but could now have to pay more than double that.

Ajax are on course to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League and qualification to the next round would certainly force City to overpay if they want De Jong in January.

Of players that have attempted at least 24 dribbles in Eredivisie since the start of last season, De Jong has the best success rate (91.4%),