With De Bruyne set to leave Manchester City do they have a player lined up to come into Pep Guardiola’s squad? | OneFootball

On Friday it was confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. It is sad to know that one of Manchester City’s greatest-ever players is now in the final few weeks of his storied career with the club. But comments made by Pep Guardiola during his pre-game press conference on Friday did pose a question: With De Bruyne set to leave Manchester City do they have a player lined up to come into Pep Guardiola’s squad? ? Guardiola’s comments on how De Bruyne’s exit has been handled do raise eyebrows on that front.

In quotes relayed by Joe Bray for Manchester Evening News Pep Guardiola revealed that Manchester City had decided not to offer De Bruyne a contract extension. Speaking on the subject Guardiola told the media: “The club has to move forward. Move on, the decision has been made for the club. The club is the club. Me, Txiki and the club. It is what it is.”

Has Manchester City decided to let De Bruyne leave the club as they have a player in mind to add creativity to their midfield?

Pep Guardiola’s comments do raise eyebrows, although it isn’t unexpected that De Bruyne wasn’t offered a contract extension. He looks to have given everything to Manchester City, and his body does appear to be letting him down. The magic is still there but De Bruyne can’t get around the pitch like he once could. That’s the harsh reality of Father Time waiting for no one. De Bruyne is no exception to this rule. But a new report from Simon Mullock for the Mirror suggests that City have a player lined up to add creativity to their midfield.

Simon Mullock reports that Manchester City’s decision to let De Bruyne leave the club is due to their confidence in signing Florian Wirtz this summer. Furthermore, Mullock reports that City are prepared to smash their transfer record to sign the German international. Mullock further reports that Manchester City are ready to spend whatever it takes to rebuild Pep Guardiola’s squad. Florian Wirtz is one player they have identified to add creativity to City’s midfield.

It does appear that Manchester City have identified their primary transfer target for this summer. That is Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz. He isn’t the same type of player as Kevin De Bruyne. No one is. But he would add exactly what City need with his eye for goal and ability to create chances for his teammates.

Manchester City have a player lined up to add creativity to their midfield and now it’s up to them to convince Wirtz to move to the Etihad.

But joining the dots it does seem that Manchester City have a player lined up now that they have decided to let De Bruyne leave the club. Whether or not it was the right decision by the club to let De Bruyne depart remains to be seen. But Florian Wirtz is looming as the player Manchester City will move for to add creativity to their midfield. Pep Guardiola’s comments show that City were willing to let De Bruyne leave and Simon Mullock’s report indicates that they have a replacement player in mind. It’s now a major story to watch for ahead of the summer transfer window.