Manchester City Monitoring Ajax Teenage Sensation Amid Stiff European Competition

Manchester City Monitoring Ajax Teenage Sensation Amid Stiff European Competition Hugo Viana and co are plotting a move for Ajax starlet Abdellah Ouazane. More Videos The Eredivisie has long served as one of European football's most prolific breeding grounds for elite young talent. Whether they come in the form of midfield orchestrators like Frenkie de Jong or tricky forwards such as Cody Gakpo, Dutch clubs are synonymous with technically adept youngsters honing their craft before a big-money move to title contenders on foreign soil. All that means that eyebrows are naturally raised any time top European sides begin monitoring the latest breakout talent in the Netherlands. If reports are to be believed, this one could be bound for Manchester - although Enzo Maresca's side could face stiff competition for his signature from other footballing giants. As reported by  Tutto Atalanta  and relayed by Sport Witness , Manchester City have entered the race for Ajax teenager Abdellah Ouazane. Having progressed through the academy ranks in Amsterdam since the age of seven, the 17-year-old midfielder has transitioned into a regular player for the senior side this season, making 10 appearances in the Eredivisie alongside two outings in the UEFA Conference League group stage. His growing presence in senior football was underlined during a standout substitute performance in a 2-0 win over Atalanta, where he netted his first European goal off the bench having already scored twice domestically. Before establishing himself in the first team at Ajax, the Moroccan youth international did something few players can stake a claim to: turning down a move to Real Madrid. Despite a deal with the Spanish giants being practically finalised, the youngster opted to remain in the Netherlands to ensure regular minutes for his development. It is safe to say that decision is now yielding tangible rewards on the pitch. With Ouazane’s contract only running until 2028, interested clubs are expecting Ajax to face mounting pressure to sell if they want to come away with the best possible fee. The report identifies both  Manchester City and Juventus as clubs monitoring the situation closely. While the Italian side can point to their successful Next Gen development pathway,  Manchester City also have an established track record of nurturing young prospects, many of whom are currently seeing regular minutes at elite clubs both inside and outside of the Premier League. While Ouazane focuses on continuing to secure regular minutes in Amsterdam, this is a player City fans may want to keep an eye on in case reported interest develops further.