- Al-Ittihad had been hopeful of luring Kevin De Bruyne away from Man City
- Pep Guardiola has insisted though his star midfielder ‘isn’t leaving’ the club
- Man City want to ascertain the Belgian’s next steps as soon with talks planned
Manchester City will look to determine Kevin De Bruyne’s future plans after Pep Guardiola confirmed the talisman is remaining at the club for the final year of his contract.
De Bruyne has been the subject of intense interest from the Saudi Pro League, as Mail Sport revealed in January, with Al-Ittihad hopeful of luring him away from the Etihad Stadium.
The 33-year-old talked up the prospect of a move to the Middle East during the European Championship before insisting he was happy at City.
Guardiola has now shot down suggestions of a departure before City kicked off their pre-season against Celtic in North Carolina by saying: ‘Kevin isn’t leaving.’
City want to ascertain the Belgian’s next steps as soon as possible given his deal expires next summer, with talks scheduled when he returns to Manchester next month.
Kevin De Bruyne (pictured) is set for showdown talks with Manchester City next month
Pep Guardiola (pictured) has insisted that De Bruyne will not leave the club, despite interest from Al-Ittihad
The 33-year-old talked up the prospect of a move to the Middle East during the European Championship before insisting he was happy at City
Guardiola has stressed that this is likely to be a quiet transfer window for the Premier League champions, who have so far added £33million winger Savinho from sister club Troyes.
City would need to heavily finance a replacement for De Bruyne were he to run his contract down and could be conserving finance ahead of that eventuality.
The City boss claimed that there is a ’85-90 per cent chance’ that their squad will now stay the same once the campaign kicks off – unless star players agitate for moves away.
Ederson and Julian Alvarez are the two with the most interest, from Al-Ittihad and Atletico Madrid respectively. Atletico’s pursuit of Girona striker Artem Dovbyk appears separate to Alvarez, who is likely to cost up to £70m.
‘If someone leaves, we’re going to talk about that,’ Guardiola said. ‘Of course, until the last day, we have chances (to make transfers).
‘I don’t rule it out the option to have new players but I think there is an 85,90 per cent chance we will have the same squad.
City would need to heavily finance a replacement for De Bruyne were he to run his contract down
City have had a quiet transfer window so far having only signed £33million winger Savinho from sister club Troyes
‘But we’ll see, I don’t know in the last moment if someone comes for some players and they leave, we’re going to decide.’
Guardiola, meanwhile, wouldn’t be drawn on links to the vacant England job.
