Ajax named as potential suitor in race for ‘skilful’ Manchester City winger

Manchester City could be on the verge of fielding interest in one of the club’s brightest emerging talents this summer, showing an openness to a permanent sale.

The ongoing summer transfer window has once again been a period where Manchester City decision makers have put plenty of focus on ensuring that the club’s rising talents are handled in the best possible way.

With a firm focus placed on the development of young stars, Manchester City have been keen to ensure that all players on their conveyor belt of talent are either handed permanent transfers, loan spells for senior football opportunities, or a place in the first-team squad.

Two names that have received notice of the latter are Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee, with both players being showered with praise by manager Pep Guardiola during the pre-season tour of the United States, and now expected to see the 2024/25 season out with the first-team.

Another name that has not yet received confirmation of similar news is Joel Ndala, who impressed during short spells for Manchester City during pre-season Stateside, but could now be on his way out of the Etihad Stadium.

That is according to the information of the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, who reveals that Joel Ndala could be the next Etihad Stadium youngster on the move, with both Ajax and Venezia named among a number of clubs interested.

From the side of Manchester City, the report also reveals that the Premier League champions would be open to the idea of a permanent move, despite the player being viewed as one of the brightest emerging prospects from their youth system.

From the side of Manchester City, the teenage winger is described as being a “skilful winger always willing to take on defenders, he utilised his blistering pace to great effect during the season”.

Should Ndala take on a temporary spell away from the Etihad Stadium, then he could follow in the footsteps of Callum Doyle and Mahamadou Susoho – both of whom have moved into the Football League with switches to Norwich City and Peterborough United respectively.

A permanent sale is more than likely to see Manchester City embed a number of clauses into an agreement, including a buy-back and sell-one clause, as well as the potential for first refusal should Ndala’s future club field interest of their own in future.