Football news - Frenkie De Jong set for PSG switch with summer move 'almost certain'

The news coming out of the Netherlands late on Thursday night will come as a big blow to Manchester City and Barcelona, both of whom had targeted the prodigious 21-year-old.

De Telegraaf reports that PSG officials Antero Henrique and Maxwell flew into Amsterdam on Thursday for talks with Ajax and came away with a deal “almost certain”.

Ajax technical director Marc Overmars is said to have quoted the £67m fee, which should pose no problem to cash-rich PSG. The paper says Overmars has confirmed talks took place, but that no deal has been finalised.

The most expensive Dutch player ever will remain Virgil van Dijk after his £75m move to Liverpool 12 months ago but De Jong's prospective deal would make him the most expensive Eredivisie player of all time.

De Telegraaf says that City's interest has possibly waned in light of their issues with UEFA and Financial Fair Play.

De Telegraaf also says PSG's move came about after a direct request from Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe's France played Netherlands twice in the UEFA Nations League and the 19-year-old striker was said to be so impressed with De Jong that he "called on the club leadership" to sign the midfielder.

De Jong has been compared to Dutch great Johan Cruyff in terms of his talent, even if his specific skillset means he is not the same kind of player.

As well as spending some of his young career in defence, De Jong is a deep-lying midfield playmaker who also likes to dribble.

In his five caps for Netherlands he has already shown why he is regarded as one of the finest young talents in the game.