Manchester City are likely to make a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze if Kevin De Bruyne leaves for Saudi Arabia, according to The Mirror.
It is believed that De Bruyne has been offered a lucrative contract by Al-Ittihad, although there is some debate over whether the Belgian has accepted the proposal.
If he does end up moving to the Middle East, though, it looks as if the Cityzens will make a concerted effort to sign Eze.
The Mirror claim that the Premier League champions will “consider” triggering the England international’s release clause, which is said to be £68m (including add-ons).
Other teams are interested in signing Eze
Tottenham and Arsenal have also been heavily linked with the 25-year-old, but it is thought that City would be the player’s preferred destination if they do table a formal offer.
The Mirror suggest that rivals will be “powerless” to prevent Pep Guardiola’s side from completing the signing of Eze.
Are City set to lose De Bruyne?
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has insisted that the 33-year-old has not agreed personal terms with Al-Ittihad, although they are interested in his teammate Ederson.
The Brazilian international is believed to have already said ‘yes’ to the transfer so it is now down to whether the two sides can come to agreement on the fee.
Ederson is valued at around €50m (£42m) by City, which is a price that fans may argue is too low, considering he is one of the world’s best keepers in the prime of his career.
However, the 30-year-old has less than two years left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and with the player keen to leave, they need to raise as much as possible from his sale now.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for 2024/2025 season here
