Manchester City have already identified their ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne should he move to the Saudi Pro League this summer.
De Bruyne’s future at City is uncertain as his contract expires in 2025. He has been strongly connected with a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
Al Ittihad, the reigning league champions who recently hired Laurent Blanc as their manager, are eager to sign the Belgian captain as their next major acquisition. They are also interested in City goalkeeper Ederson, for whom the Premier League champions are seeking approximately £50 million.
Reports suggesting that De Bruyne has agreed on personal terms with Al Ittihad are considered inaccurate, but the club is actively pursuing his signature.
According to The Mirror, City are already planning for De Bruyne’s potential departure and have identified Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze as a possible successor.
Eze has been mentioned as a target for City recently, and Tottenham Hotspur are also known to be interested in him.
Despite injury setbacks, Eze concluded last season with 11 goals and four assists, showcasing a strong finish under Oliver Glasner’s management. His versatility to play in various positions was also highlighted during impactful appearances for England at Euro 2024.
Eze is contracted for another three years, which includes a release clause set at £60 million plus additional incentives. Following Michael Olise’s substantial transfer to Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace is determined not to undervalue another key player departure.
Al Ittihad has recently finalized a deal for Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby, and Kevin De Bruyne has openly acknowledged the financial allure of Saudi Arabia. In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, De Bruyne expressed his openness to considering such opportunities at this stage of his career:
“At my age, you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible amounts of money at what could potentially be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.
If I were to play there for two years, I could earn an incredible amount of money. Before that, I had to play football for 15 years and I might not even reach that total. So, you have to think about what that could mean for the future. But for now, I haven’t had to make any decisions.”
Since joining City from Wolfsburg in 2015, De Bruyne has amassed an impressive record of 15 trophies, 102 goals, and 170 assists, solidifying his status as one of the club’s greatest players.
