Manchester City are preparing an offer for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

The Daily Express says City are to step up their efforts to land De Ligt after missing out to Barcelona in the race for Frenkie de Jong.

De Ligt, 19, is also set to leave Ajax this summer, and has also been attracting the interest of Barcelona, as well as City, PSG and Juventus.

City boss Pep Guardiola has got De Ligt – rated at around £60million – at the top of his wanted list.

The centre-back has played 92 senior games for Ajax and picked up 13 Holland caps to date.