Pep Guardiola pondering move for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt | OneFootball

Matthijs de Ligt has already been capped by the Netherlands despite just being 18-years-old.

According to the Guardian, Manchester City manager is monitoring the young centre-back as a potential replacement for Vincent Kompany.

Even though he may lack age, de Ligt certainly does not lack experience in big matches, as he started the Europa League final against Manchester United at age 17.

However, de Ligt would likely not be getting much, if any, first-team action as Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte would all be favoured ahead of the teenager.

Kompany has been battling several injuries as of late, only playing in eight of City’s final 14 matches. The 32-year-old enters the last year of his contract without any guarantees about his future.

Speaking about Kompany’s future earlier this week, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, City’s chairman, said: “I know how hard it’s been for him physically but also mentally. But he’s a leader with an unbelievable personality to handle these challenges. The way he’s come back, the last two months of the season, he’s been arguably the best defender in the world.”