Kevin De Bruyne has been the crown jewel on Manchester City’s crown for almost a decade but the playmaker could make his way out very soon.
The Belgian international joined MCFC from Wolfsburg in 2015 and since then, he’s had 259 goal contributions in 366 games for the club across all competitions.
From being a Chelsea reject, KDB has turned himself into one of the best playmakers of his generation but there’s a big possibility he is going to spend the final leg of his playing career in the Saudi Pro League.
The SPL managed to lure in some of the bigger names in Europe last year and they have no intentions of stopping this summer either. According to the Times, several Pro League clubs are going to make a move for Kevin De Bruyne at the end of this season.
Is it the right time to sell Kevin De Bruyne?
Kevin De Bruyne has been with Manchester City for nine years but his contract is up in 2025 and it will be a big surprise if the club offers him a new long-term deal.
By the time his contract expires in 2025, he will be 33 years old and while City are going to hold talks over a new contract, they will offer him one or maybe a two-year deal. Talks were supposed to begin at the start of this season itself but they had been put on hold due to his injury.
His numbers are top class and last season, he had an xG of 4.76, an xA of 16.32 and a passing accuracy of 80.8% in 2425 minutes of Premier League football.
Even at 32, KDB’s market value is €60 million which just goes on to show what a phenomenal player he is but injuries are catching up with him. He missed the first couple of months of this season due to a hamstring injury and last weekend, he has once again complained of a niggle.
Pep is famous for finding and disposing players at the perfect time and we have a feeling the MCFC manager is lining up Julian Alvarez as the long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne.
Alvarez has been quietly doing his job in and around the final third and during KDB’s absence the Argentine has given his audition for the No 10. This season, he’s started every game for the Cityzens racking up 15 goal involvements.
If the Saudi clubs are serious about signing De Bruyne then they will also be ready to spend hugely and if Man City can bag around €80-85 million for the playmaker, Pep might just allow him to leave.
The way he’s played at City, finding the ideal successor to Kevin De Bruyne is almost impossible but with 32 goals and 16 assists in 85 matches, Alvarez is a worthy candidate.
Truth be told, Kevin De Bruyne leaving at the end of the 2023/24 season seems like a little stretch but if the Saudi clubs are offering a crazy amount then Guardiola could show him the door.
