According to a report, Manchester City may demand more than £50 million for playmaker Kevin De Bruyne next summer due to interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.
The 32-year-old is Pep Guardiola’s current squad’s longest-serving player, having spent the last eight years at the Etihad Stadium, where he has established himself as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
De Bruyne has 96 goals and 153 assists in 358 appearances for Manchester City, and he has also won 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The Belgian international, who is currently out with a long-term hamstring injury, is set to have his contract at the Etihad expire in June 2025, and there are reportedly no other options for him.
Such rumours have sparked speculation about De Bruyne’s possible departure from the treble winners, with a number of Saudi Arabian clubs said to be interested in the playmaker.
According to Football Insider, De Bruyne is a’serious target’ for Saudi Pro League clubs in the summer of 2024, and they plan to increase their pursuit in the near future.
According to the report, De Bruyne is happy at Man City but could be persuaded to leave if the financial offers from Saudi clubs are too good to pass up.
Man City have no intention of selling De Bruyne in January, when he is expected to return from injury, but they may consider offers.
De Bruyne is one of the most recent elite players to be linked with a big-money move to the Middle East, alongside Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah, who was allegedly the subject of a £150 million offer rejected by the Reds in the summer.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January, a slew of high-profile names have switched to the Saudi Pro League, and the league hopes to attract more players in the coming years.
During the summer transfer window, Saudi Pro League clubs spent a total of £784 million, with Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr spending 87% of the money, which is controlled by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Neymar was the most expensive transfer made by a Saudi club, with Al-Hilal paying around £86 million for the Brazilian from Paris Saint-Germain, while Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Ruben Neves, and Edouard Mendy also moved to the Middle East this summer.
It remains to be seen whether Guardiola would be willing to part ways with De Bruyne next summer, after losing a number of star players in recent years, including Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan last summer.
Links to a possible De Bruyne exit come at a time when Manchester City are rumored to be interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala, with Guardiola said to be interested.
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