Kevin De Bruyne ready to accept reduced role in order to stay at Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City may have been handed their first indication on Kevin De Bruyne’s position over his football future, according to new details.

The Belgium international is firmly into the final months of his existing Etihad Stadium contract with no clarity surrounding what the immediate future holds for him beyond the end of the current season.

De Bruyne has previously revealed that he had personally postponed talks with Manchester City over a new contract, instead wanting to focus on his own personal fitness and ensure that he could continue competing at the highest level for longer.

That stance came amid a mysterious and frustrating groin problem sustained during the UEFA Champions League clash with Inter earlier in the campaign, ruling De Bruyne out for several weeks despite the initial feeling that the problem was not serious.

The last few weeks have also seen the 33-year-old shut out from Pep Guardiola’s starting line-ups in mammoth clashes against the likes of Real Madrid and Tottenham away from home, as well as the 4-0 home win over Newcastle.

And despite the uncertainty, Manchester City may have now finally been made aware of the early feeling from Kevin De Bruyne’s side over what he would like his future to look like beyond the end of the season.

According to the information of The Times’ Paul Hirst, Kevin De Bruyne is ‘OK’ with the idea of playing a bit-part role for Manchester City next season as the two sides continue to weigh up whether to open contractual negotiations over an extended agreement.

Regardless of what the future holds for Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City officials are expected to eye the signing of more than one new central midfielder during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Those activities will be lead by incoming sporting director Hugo Viana, who will take the role from long-standing director Txiki Begiristain after the Spaniard has held the position for the last 12 seasons.

Among the names already being considered for central midfield positions at the Etihad Stadium under Pep Guardiola are Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, and Torino’s Samuele Ricci.

The former is widely viewed within the Etihad Stadium as being the priority target to take the reigns of Kevin De Bruyne in the attacking midfield position at Manchester City, having already seen Jamal Musiala extend his contract at Bayern Munich amid Sky Blues admiration.