Transfer Centre

Guillem Balague: 'Manchester City are not in for Matthijs de Ligt'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 08 April 2019

Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague claims that Manchester City are not one of the clubs interested in signing Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt.

Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that Manchester City are not one of the clubs interested in signing Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt in this summer's transfer window.

De Ligt is widely expected to leave Ajax this summer and City - along with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain - were said to be in the hunt for the 19-year-old's signature.

However, according to Balague, City are not prepared to meet De Ligt's asking price, with the Netherlands international widely tipped to move to Camp Nou this summer.

"Manchester City do not want Matthijs De Ligt. Manchester City feel that Barcelona are at the forefront of the situation and willing to pay the £60m that Ajax want for him," Balague said on his official YouTube channel.

"Ajax do not want to do an auction for him, wherever he wants to go, he will go. And De Ligt has not made a decision but is very, very tempted by Barcelona. Bayern Munich and PSG also want him as well. But, at the moment, Barcelona are very confident."

De Ligt has scored four times in 45 appearances for Ajax during the 2018-19 campaign.