Hamburg confirm city De Jong bid

Manchester City have made an official approach for Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong, the Bundesliga’s director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer confirmed today.

Beiersdorfer told the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper the rumoured interest from the Premier League club “is true”.

“Manchester City have made us an offer,” he added at the north German club’s winter training camp in La Manga.

Beiersdorfer revealed he would discuss the offer with the player and his agent, but early indications appear to suggest the club are ready to accept it.

De Jong’s contract, which expires next year, contains a clause that would allow him to leave in the summer for only €2m, while City’s offer is a reported €15m.

Beiersdorfer, though, claims he is not convinced De Jong will be keen to join City.

“I have spoken with him about Real Madrid and other clubs in that category, but not about City,” he told Die Welt newspaper.

“I will now speak with his agent and see what happens.”

De Jong, though, appears rather more amenable to the switch, saying: “Everybody knows that I would like to play for a big club eventually.

“I count Manchester City in that category. I will take my time and listen to everything and then I will make the right decision for me.

“But I am a Hamburg player and it could be that I remain so.”

The Dutchman joined Hamburg in 2006 for €1.5m from Ajax and has played 66 Bundesliga games for the club, scoring twice.