City £50m Ligt switch

PEP GUARDIOLA is ready to sanction a £50million swoop for Ajax teenager Matthijs de Ligt.

The Dutch star, 18, (above) is seen as the long-term successor to Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. The Belgian will lift the

Premier League title for the third time today after City play Huddersfield.

Guardiola has hailed Kompany as one of the best central defenders he has ever seen.

But the Catalan’s praise came with the caveat that Kompany’s long-term fitness issues remain a big cause for concern.

The 32-year-old Belgian has just one year left on his contract – and so far City have made no move to extend that deal.

The champions are now looking to seal a move for teen star de Ligt, a centreback who has been capped five times by Holland.

When asked about Kompany’s future, the City boss said: “We will see. We miss him when he is not fit.

“When he is fit he is one of the best central defenders I have seen.

“But his problems are a bit similar to Fabian Delph in maintaining fitness.

“Hopefully next season that won’t happen. But it is the same case with Yaya Toure as it is with Vinny.”

De Ligt is regarded as a huge talent. Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also interested in the 6ft2in powerhouse who is set to become Virgil van Dijk’s first-choice central defensive partner for Holland.