CaughtOffside: Man City eye Serie A star as De Bruyne’s heir – why Milan are on alert | OneFootball

Manchester City have begun looking for Kevin De Bruyne’s replacement, and the target identified will have AC Milan on alert.

As CaughtOffside write, City are on the hunt to fill some very big shoes given that De Bruyne won six Premier League titles with them and is without a doubt one of the best players in their history. They need a creative midfielder, and though Florian Wirtz is on their list, a new name has emerged.

City see Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere as a potential successor to De Bruyne and he is the main alternative to Wirtz at present. They like his versatility, given that the Belgian – who his compatriot knows well – can play as an attacking midfield, a striker or out wide.

However, Liverpool are ‘expected to be a part of the race to sign De Ketelaere’ in the summer. It has been another excellent season for the former Club Brugge star, who has 11 goals for the Bergamo-based club plus 11 assists, in 43 appearances.

West Ham United, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Newcastle United and Arsenal are looking at De Ketelaere, and Milan will have an eye on things. Why? The Rossoneri possess a 10% sell-on clause, which ‘could increase the value of any transaction’.

The report adds: “Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini is concerned that Premier league clubs will try to sign De Ketelaere in the near future and that is why they are planning to negotiate an extension of the Belgian’s contract.”