After missing out on Declan Rice, Manchester City have been forced to look elsewhere for an Ikay Gundogan replacement.
The veteran midfielder left the Cityzens after captaining them to the treble, thus leaving a gaping hole in Guardiola's squad along the way. Celta Vigo ace Gabri Veiga has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium but a new name has landed himself on Pep's radar.
According to the Sun, that man is Frenkie de Jong, the highly-rated Barcelona ace. Guardiola is said to be a long-term admirer of the Dutchman and even tried to sign him from Ajax before eventually losing this race to the Catalan giants.
The 26-year-old is an exceptional talent who can not only help his team build out from the back and progress up the pitch, either through his brilliant passing or ball-carrying skills, but De Jong can also be effective in the final third by either picking out his teammates or scoring a goal.
And the aforementioned British tabloid claims Guardiola and Co. are pondering making a move for De Jong, with Barcelona reportedly being open to a sale despite him impressive campaign last term. The Spanish champions remain in a desperate financial situation and with the Dutchman being their highest-paid player, the Blaugrana could stand to benefit from getting Frenkie off their wage book.
However, the Catalan side could demand a similar fee to what Man City offered for Declan Rice, which totaled $114M ($101M guaranteed plus $13M in add-ons). Furthermore, there are several unanswered questions should the Cityzens make a formal offer for De Jong.
The maestro infamously rejected a move to Manchester United in last season's drawn-out transfer saga. The player was keen on a Camp Nou stay and remains happy in Catalonia. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the Red Devils back then was at an all-time high. However, things are different at Man City.
The Premier League champions won the treble last season and are arguably the most dominant team in recent years. Furthermore, Pep Guardiola is in charge and the prospect of working under the Spanish tactician could turn anyone's head.
This could become an interesting saga should the Abu Dhabi-owned side formalize their interest in the Netherlands sensation. Until then, the search for the heir to Ilkay Gundogan's throne remains a mystery.
