Kevin De Bruyne to Man City intriguing for more than one reason

Former Chelsea attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly being tracked by Manchester City, who are 9/4 with Coral to win the Premier League this season.

According to various sources, the club have been scouting the Belgium international and have been impressed by what they have seen. The 23-year-old only joined Wolfsburg in January, after Jose Mourinho sold him in an £18m deal, with the Blues having bought De Bruyne for £7m.

He has excelled for the Bundesliga side this season, and has been a key component in the challenge they have offered up to Bayern Munich. However, in Germany everyone battles for second place, with Pep Guardiola’s outfit already opening up an 11 point lead at the top.

De Bruyne’s 13 assists and six goals across all competitions in 25 appearances, are no doubt the reason why Manuel Pellegrini is interested, along with the fact that his squad has been ravaged by injury this season.

All of their main strikers, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic are sidelined, which is hampering them significantly, though it could be Pellegrini’s plan to optimise a ‘false nine’ system flooded with skillful creators such as David Silva, Samir Nasri and De Bruyne, with any natural striking replacements rendered expensive.

City are hampered, however, by Financial Fair Play restrictions, though it is understood that if a deal can be brokered at around the £18m mark, they will not be in any further breach of the rules. There is no doubt that De Bruyne, who also boasts seven goals in 28 international appearances, will add something to City.

Although barely used at Chelsea, and in the shadow of compatriot Eden Hazard, he is still regarded as one of the best young players in Europe. For De Bruyne, he must decide where he feels he has the best chance of, firstly playing regularly, and winning silverware, with both clubs perfectly positioned to challenge for league titles this term.

It would be a remarkable achievement for Wolfsburg to overhaul Bayern, while he isn’t guaranteed a starting place at City if everyone is fit, though De Bruyne will have a better chance of winning a medal if he heads to City.

Also, in an intriguing sub-plot, he would be challenged with the task of helping the English top flight champions overhaul his former club Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.