Is there a possibility that Manchester City cash in on Kevin De Bruyne this summer? | OneFootball

Is there a possibility that Manchester City could cash in on Kevin De Bruyne this summer? The possibility could be in play this summer. The Saudi Pro League remains interested in landing the Manchester City club legend. But could the world champions cash in on a player who is part of the furniture at the Etihad?

A report from the Athletic indicates that the Saudi Pro League will make a push to sign Kevin De Bruyne to the upstart league this summer. Furthermore, the Athletic reports that Manchester City are aware of the Saudi interest in their club legend. They further report that the champions are drawing up contingency plans in case the midfielder does fancy a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.

From a purely emotional standpoint, there doesn’t seem to be any possibility of Manchester City selling Kevin De Bruyne. He has become a club legend during his time at the club. For his what he has contributed to Manchester City, he deserves to go out on his own terms. De Bruyne deserves a similar exit to that of club legends Sergio Aguero, David Silva, and others. He has earned that right and is still a key contributor to the team, which was highlighted by his performance last weekend against Crystal Palace.

READ MORE: One of Manchester City’s primary transfer targets wants to move to the Etihad, but there are hurdles to clear.

But from a business standpoint, there may be a discussion to be had. If the Saudi Pro League is willing to pay Manchester City a fee in excess of £100 million, then it may be considered. Such a transfer fee for a player who is 32 years of age will only come around once. It is an absurd fee for an older player, but such fees have become common place as the Saudi Pro League attempts to grow its standing in the game. Also, if De Bruyne does decide to move to the Gulf state, then it becomes an easy deal to complete.

The champions could also potentially make summer moves for Lucas Paqueta and Jamal Musiala. It was also included in the Athletic’s report that Paqueta is keen to move to Manchester City. Miguel Delaney has also reported for the Independent that City are more advanced than their rivals in the chase for Musiala. It could be expected that to sign both players, City could be looking at an outlay upwards of £150 million to land the pair. While the world champions have vast financial resources, they would likely need to see a key player or two depart to facilitate that type of significant financial outlay. A sizable fee for De Bruyne may aid Manchester City in securing their summer transfer targets.

It would be a special moment for Kevin De Bruyne to finish his career at Manchester City. It would be a fitting reward for his remarkable contribution to the club. But football is a business, and teams can not afford to stand still. If De Bruyne decides he wants to head to Saudi Arabia for the latter stages of his career, then Manchester City would have to cash in on the club legend. It would appear that there is a possibility, however remote that Kevin De Bruyne could leave the champions this summer.