Claims that Kevin de Bruyne has reached an agreement to join the Saudi Pro League have been refuted by Fabrizio Romano, but one Aston Villa player seems destined to be heading toward a high-profile move elsewhere.
With De Bruyne, a Manchester City player and Premier League superstar, entering the last year of his contract at the Etihad, speculation over his future has only grown.
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After playing for Belgium at Euro 2024, the 33-year-old is presently enjoying his summer vacation. Earlier this month, he talked about his future, stating he hadn’t discussed a move with anybody.
“I’ve read a lot of headlines, but I haven’t spoken to anyone,” he said to the Belgian website HLN. I’m hoping to live for a few more years. Everyone is aware that I have a one-year deal with City. and that as of right now, I haven’t spoken to anyone. I’m assuming that in the next months, there will be discussions with City.
“If not, I’ll have to find another job.” But it’s difficult to predict what may occur. This summer, I’ll be
The former Wolfsburg player, who cost £55 million to go from the Bundesliga to City in 2015, has been connected to Al-Ittihad. On Sunday, there were rumors circulating that he had reached an agreement with the Saudi team.
This seem to tally up as in June, De Bruyne, who scored six goals and bagged 18 assists in an injury-hit season where he made just 26 appearances in 2023/24, raised the possibility of a move to the Middle East due to the “incredible” amounts of money on offer.
He told HLN: “At my age you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.
“If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet. Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven’t had to think about that yet.”
However, Romano says Saudi sources have played down reports of the ex-Chelsea man moving to Al-Ittihad, with him emphasising this was ‘not true’.
While they may not sign the attacking midfielder, he adds that City goalkeeper Ederson is next on Ittihad’s agenda, but this is not an easy transfer.
The 30-year-old has two years left on his contract and after being the club’s first-choice stopper for so long, his form dropped off last season, with Stefan Ortega regularly playing between the sticks in his absence.
While that move is still in limbo, Ittihad – who look set to appoint former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli on a three-year deal – are closing in on Aston Villa’s Moussa Diaby, according to Romano.
Villa’s record signing appears to be inching closer towards signing for the Saudi team in a deal worth around £50m, the 25-year-old has agreed personal terms and a long-term contract is likely to be struck.
The winger joined Villa from Bayer Leverkusen for £51.9m in 2023 and despite scoring 10 goals and bagging nine assists, it looks like his time in the Premier League will be a short one.
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