Manchester City are among a clutch of clubs monitoring Uruguay midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro who was the first man sent off in this year's World Cup.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute against France but was sent off after an ugly lunge on Bacary Sagna.

However, he has earned rave reviews with Ajax this season and is earmarked as a star of the future.

Ajax only signed him from Nacional in January ahead of competition from cash-strapped Liverpool.