Ajax boss Frank de Boer is emerging as a top candidate for Roberto Mancini's job at Manchester City.

The Sunday Mirror says De Boer, the 42-year-old Ajax coach, will be targeted by the Blues chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki ­Begiristain, if they decide Mancini should quit.

> De Boer is looking to lead Ajax to a hat-trick of Dutch titles since taking over at the club he graced as a player in 2010. But he is frustrated that the Amsterdam giants have ­become a selling club, to the tune of £70million in recent times.

De Boer, who spent four years as a player at Barca, is a multi-millionaire, so money will not be his main ­motivation when he decides his future. He wants a project that will enable him to ­challenge for the top ­honours in ­Europe.