Manchester City have already identified their ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne should he move to the Saudi Pro League this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne’s future at Manchester City is uncertain as his contract expires in 2025. He has been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
Al Ittihad, the reigning league champions who recently appointed Laurent Blanc as manager, are eager to secure the Belgium captain as their next major signing.
Al Ittihad’s interest extends beyond Kevin De Bruyne to include Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, for whom City reportedly seek around £50 million.
While reports suggesting De Bruyne has agreed to personal terms with Al Ittihad are reportedly inaccurate, the club is actively pursuing his signing.
According to The Mirror, Manchester City already have a potential successor in mind should De Bruyne depart. They are reportedly considering a move for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
Eze has been mentioned as a target for City recently, with Tottenham also showing interest in the talented midfielder.
Despite facing injury setbacks, Eberechi Eze finished last season with an impressive tally of 11 goals and four assists. He particularly excelled during the latter part of the campaign under manager Oliver Glasner.
Eberechi Eze also made significant impacts during Euro 2024 with England, showcasing his versatility across multiple positions, which has caught the eye of City.
Despite Eze having three years remaining on his contract, it includes a release clause set at £60 million plus additional add-ons. Following Michael Olise’s lucrative transfer to Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace are determined not to undervalue another key asset.
Al Ittihad recently finalized a deal for Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby, and Kevin De Bruyne has openly acknowledged the allure of Saudi Arabia’s substantial financial opportunities.
In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, De Bruyne remarked, “At my age, you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible amounts of money at what could be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to consider that.”
He continued, reflecting on the financial potential: “If I were to play there for two years, I would be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that, I had to play football for 15 years, and I may not have earned that much yet. So, you have to think about what that could mean for the future. But at this moment, I haven’t had to make that decision.”
Kevin De Bruyne made his move to Manchester City from Wolfsburg in 2015, and since then, he has established himself as one of the club’s most illustrious players. During his time at City, he has accumulated an impressive record of 15 trophies, scoring 102 goals, and providing 170 assists.
