Manchester City are at risk of losing their top midfield target Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder has emerged as a transfer target for some of the biggest clubs in Europe at the end of the current season.
He is expected to make a decision on his future in January and is set to spend the rest of the season at Ajax before considering leaving the club next summer.
De Jong has been identified by Pep Guardiola as his top midfield target for the next summer transfer window, but Manchester City have been losing ground in the transfer chase.
According to the Times, Barcelona believe they are in pole position to snap up the midfielder in the coming months after carrying out thorough background work to get a deal done.
Barcelona technical director Eric Abidal has met the player and his representatives and has discussed the terms of a five-year contract.
The Catalan giants are confident that De Jong will snub interest from Manchester City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich to move to the Nou Camp next summer.
Ajax are claimed to be asking for a transfer of around £63m for the young midfielder.
