The Mirror report that Ajax boss Frank De Boer is the latest in a line of big names to be touted as Roberto Mancini’s replacement at Man City. The Dutch legend has led Ajax to the title for the past two seasons and is looking likely to make it three in a row this season.
However, he has become frustrated with the lack of finance at the Amsterdam side. The club have had to sell their best players for the past few seasons as they are unable to offer the same wages available to players in England, Spain and Germany.
Similarly to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, De Boer has to try and rebuild his team each season having sold his best players, although Ajax have managed to continue to win trophies despite the exodus of stars.
In recent seasons De Boer has seen Luis Suarez, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen leave the club amongst others, and he is set to lose his best player again this summer with Christain Eriksen set to leave.
It has left De Boer feeling he can take the club no further and he is now looking for a big European club to take the next step in his managerial career. Man City would fit the bill perfectly.
FA Cup or bust for Mancini
Mancini has come under pressure at City this season. His side put up a feeble defence of their title with Man Utd currently 15 points clear at the top of the table. Also their Champions League campaign was a disappointment with them failing to progress beyond the group stage for the second season running.
Despite being in a tough group, a return of three draws and three defeats (one of which was against De Boer’s Ajax) is not acceptable to the club’s owners.
It is thought inside the club that Mancini’s only hope of keeping his job is winning the FA Cup, with a semi final against either Man Utd or Chelsea the next game.
However, even if Mancini does lead City to the FA Cup for the second time in three years, it is becoming increasingly likely that he will be leaving the club in the summer.