Huge Man City exit accelerates, with ‘jaw-dropping’ offer readied after initial talks begin
Man City trio Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden
Manchester City are at increasing risk of losing Kevin de Bruyne, as Saudi Pro League chiefs are reportedly ready to step up their hunt for the attacking midfielder with a ‘jaw-dropping’ contract offer.
De Bruyne was targeted by Saudi officials in the summer, as they looked to take a plethora of top stars from Europe to the Middle East. While world-class players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar and Sadio Mane are now playing in Saudi Arabia, De Bruyne could not be convinced to make the switch.
The playmaker made just one Premier League appearance at the start of the season before picking up a muscle injury, which is expected to keep him out of action until December.
De Bruyne has been a fantastic servant for City, having notched an incredible 96 goals and 153 assists in 358 matches, helping them to win a host of trophies.
But recent reports have suggested the Citizens might not hand him a new contract if his injury problems persist. And with his current deal set to expire in summer 2025, this could result in a transfer away from the Etihad at the end of the campaign.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Al Nassr have pencilled in a meeting with De Bruyne’s agent. Then, on Friday, Saudi chiefs got the ball rolling by sounding the 32-year-old out for a move.
READ MORE: Man City, Bayern Munich still pushing for PSG star despite ‘agreement in principle’ on new deal
According to an update from Football Insider, Saudi officials are determined to make De Bruyne their latest big-name capture and will try to lure him to the country with a massive contract offer. There will be ‘jaw-dropping’ finances on offer, it is claimed.
The report does not mention exactly how much De Bruyne could earn, or which team in particular is at the front of the queue to complete a deal. But if previous reports are to be believed, then it is Al Nassr who are leading the charge. This could see De Bruyne form an unstoppable partnership with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kevin de Bruyne to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo?
De Bruyne currently takes home £400,000 a week at City. At Al Nassr, though, he could earn way more than this. Ronaldo is admittedly an extreme example, but he is picking up a whopping £3.6m per week in Saudi Arabia.
It will be a shame if De Bruyne departs the Premier League at the end of the season, as many City fans will feel he still has plenty more top performances in him.
Should De Bruyne leave though, then he will go as a modern-day City legend. He has helped the club to win one Champions League, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and one UEFA Super Cup.
De Bruyne is not the only elite City man who could soon find a new club, as Real Madrid have reportedly drawn up a huge offer for one of his team-mates.
