This Inter Miami lineup with Kevin De Bruyne has all the X factor to succeed | OneFootball

It's a long way to go from the reports that surfaced Monday linking Kevin De Bruyne to Inter Miami to actually seeing the longtime Manchester City star in the Herons' pink and black. If it happens at all.

There are still MLS roster rule hurdles to clear, as well as what are allegedly lofty contract demands from De Bruyne's camp.

But let's be clear here: If both parties want to get this done, there's are realistic ways to make it happen. And if it does? Well, De Bruyne will join Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and company on what might already be the most-talented roster in MLS history.

How would a Messi-De Bruyne-Suarez-led Miami line up? There's a lot of depth to this group beyond the names with European recognition. But here's what it might look like.

A 4-3-3 that plays like a 4-3-2-1

Miami manager Javier Mascherano has rotated primarily between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2 this season, usually opting for the former when Messi is absent or on the bench, and the latter when he starts.

However, the only responsible way to get Messi, Luis Suarez and De Bruyne all on the field at the same time would probably require dropping the rest of the midfield unit a little deeper than a 4-2-3-1 allows.

And you'd also probably want both Messi and De Bruyne as inverted wingers to play a bit more narrowly than a standard 4-3-3 because of the potential for other-worldly intricate combination play in the final third.

So this might look more like the old Christmas Tree AC Milan formation in practice, with the front six all playing somewhat narrow and the width coming from fullbacks Jordi Alba and (to a lesser extent) Marcelo Weigandt

Still some youth involved

While the addition of De Bruyne would clearly make an already veteran Miami core even more experienced, there would still be room for a couple youthful contributors in Telasco Segovia and Yannick Bright.

Segovia, 21, has been one of the best supplemental signings for Inter Miami since the project with Messi began. Bright, 23, has proven yet again that MLS-level talent can be found in the college draft, particularly in the defensive half. Both players would be even more pivotal to doing the gruntwork in the event of De Bruyne's arrival, given that neither he nor Messi nor Suarez would be expected to exert a lot of their energy on the defensive side of the ball.

Subject to (lots of) change

While this is the best XI Macherano might employ, there's still going to be a lot of opportunities for others to contribute. The potential arrival of De Bruyne could allow more minutes rotation for Messi in particular, who is probably going the full 90 more often than he should.

I'd still expect to see lots of starts for midfielder Tadeo Allende and defender Noah Allen in particular when squad rotation is required. And we still don't really have much of a feel for what spring acquisitions Baltasar Rodriguez and Allen Obando can offer.

This lineup also assumes Oscar Ustari returns to the starting goalkeeping role he has held for much of the season, but it could just as easily be Drake Callender there.