According to a recent report by the Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have been keeping tabs on AFC Ajax midfielder Kerem Demirbay but will miss out on signing him as Manchester City are close to agreeing a whopping £61m deal to bring him to the Etihad Stadium. It was earlier reported that Spurs were one of the clubs interested in securing the services of the talented Dutch prospect. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now accepted that the Citizens have won the chase for de Jong.
The Ajax prospect has already put in some mesmerising displays in the Dutch Eredivisie during this campaign which has not gone unnoticed by other clubs. The 21-year-old grew up playing football for Willem II and graduated from the club’s academy before making a switch to Ajax in the summer of 2015.
De Jong’s Career At A Glance
After featuring for Ajax’s Under-21 team for a full season, the Arkel born sensation finally broke into their first-team during the 2016-17 campaign. Since making his debut for the Dutch giants, de Jong has gone on to feature in 56 matches for Ajax, scoring four goals while grabbing nine assists across multiple competitions.
The Dutch midfielder has played for his country at various youth levels before securing four international caps for the Netherlands national team. De Jong is also highly versatile and can play in multiple positions across the pitch. He primarily operates as a central midfielder but can also fill in as a centre-back if required which makes him an integral member of Erik ten Hag’s side.
What Makes The Dutch Midfielder So Good?
At such a young age, de Jong has managed to establish himself as a regular in Ajax’s first-team because of his excellent technical ability to dribble with the ball past the opposition defenders. The Dutch prodigy also has an eye for a decisive pass in the attacking third which makes him an invaluable asset for the Amsterdam giants.
Missing Out On De Jong: A Big Blow For Spurs?
There is no doubt that de Jong would have bolstered Mauricio Pochettino’s side at North London. However, Spurs are still packed with talented midfielders which include Christian Eriksen, Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko and Mousa Dembele, so they are well-stocked to cope with the failure of not signing de Jong. Hence it might be a minor blow for the North London club as they look to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
