David Lynch: Kevin De Bruyne Move Has “No Chance” of Happening | OneFootball

Kevin De Bruyne to Liverpool? David Lynch Pours Cold Water on Transfer Talk

As Liverpool marches toward a historic 20th league title, speculation surrounding their summer transfer business is heating up. One rumour that refuses to go away? Kevin De Bruyne to Liverpool. But according to respected journalist David Lynch, the fantasy some Reds fans are dreaming of is firmly out of reach — and not just because of the City connection.

Doubts Over De Bruyne’s Fitness and Form

Speaking on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Lynch didn’t mince his words when asked about De Bruyne’s future and the viral photo that showed the Manchester City midfielder alongside Virgil van Dijk and Calvin Harris.

“I’ve watched him this season as much as anybody else. He looks absolutely miles off it physically,” Lynch stated bluntly. “He just doesn’t look at that level for me anymore.”

Liverpool fans may want to romanticise the idea of De Bruyne pulling strings in red, but Lynch insists the injuries have caught up with the Belgian star. “He kind of runs like he’s in mud at the moment,” he said, highlighting just how far off his peak the City midfielder appears.

And this isn’t just a fitness issue—it’s about fit. “Even if you can’t account for wages, injury history, or whatever… is this player good enough to get in the Liverpool team at the moment? He just isn’t.”

No Room for Sentiment in Slot’s System

Lynch believes any romantic notions of a De Bruyne transfer overlook the club’s current needs. “Liverpool need more creativity with Trent going, a player that can play across the front line, make something happen,” he said. But that doesn’t mean they’ll compromise on age or athleticism.

For Lynch, the idea that Liverpool would turn to a 32-year-old with fitness concerns as their post-Klopp era blueprint is unrealistic. “Not one I can see Liverpool going for with his wages and his injury history at the moment. I think we need younger players coming in,” he added.

Transfer Strategy: Ready-Made, Not Recycled

Looking ahead to Liverpool’s transfer approach this summer, Lynch provided some clear indicators of the club’s strategy. “You need someone who is ready at the highest level,” he said, hinting that any new forward will be more ‘plug-and-play’ than a long-term project.

Names like Hugo Ekitiké have been floated, but Lynch was cool on that prospect too. “That price tag is outrageous for someone who is as raw as he seems,” he argued, referring to the €100 million figure being thrown around. “It would feel a little bit… like going out of the frying pan into the fire from Nunes to him.”

In short: don’t expect Liverpool to roll the dice on another developmental forward. The club needs someone who can slot in alongside Salah and immediately elevate the front line. “They have to get that forward signing absolutely right this time,” Lynch warned.

Not Just About Incoming Transfers

While fans salivate over potential arrivals, Lynch reminded listeners of the practical realities at play—this will be a summer of both arrivals and exits. “There are clear ones who will move on,” he said, naming Darwin Nunes, Kostas Tsimikas, and potentially Joe Gomez as likely departures.

But he also added that the club wants to avoid a total overhaul: “The ideal situation is that you don’t make five or six changes to your starting XI. You only want to make one or two.”

That’s why keeping players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah—who recently signed contract extensions—was crucial. “It gives you a baseline of performance going into next season,” Lynch said.