In a recent report, the Daily Mirror provided an update on Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s contract talks. It is believed that the negotiations over a £350,000-a-week contract extension have stalled between the Belgian international and the Mancunian outfit after the player’s long-time agent Patrick De Koster was arrested in Belgium (via The Daily Mirror).
De Bruyne’s Outstanding Numbers At The Etihad Stadium Last Season
De Bruyne enjoyed another stellar campaign at the north-west of England despite only winning the League Cup in the last term. The Belgian star registered 16 goals and 23 assists in 48 matches for Man City in multiple competitions which goes to show just how devastating he can be in the final third.
The 29-year-old was in fine form in both halves as evident from his average of 1.3 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 2.7 shots, 3.9 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. De Bruyne took care of the ball well after completing 80.8% of his attempted passes in the top tier of England (stats via whoscored).
If Man City can pull off the blockbuster transfer of Lionel Messi this summer, then the 74-time Belgian international should consider committing his long-term future to Pep Guardiola’s side. He will not only enjoy a significant pay rise but also get the pleasure of playing with one of the best players of all time.
What Are The Belgian Midfield Ace’s Best Attributes?
If De Bruyne’s recent form is anything to go by, he is the best midfielder in the planet at the moment. The Belgian is one of the best in the business at creating chances for others around him and has added plenty of goals to his name as well which has made him such a well-respected figure in the Premier League.
The former Bundesliga playmaker has done well to work hard defensively when his team do not have the ball and is usually a consistent performer at the heart of Guardiola’s midfield. At 29, he still has a few years left to play at top gear which Man City should look to capitalise on in the coming seasons.
What Should Be Guardiola’s Play?
The arrest of De Bruyne’s agent will probably delay the negotiation process. Still, Guardiola should try and get him tied up to a long-term contract as soon as possible so that both the player and the club can concentrate wholeheartedly on attaining their targets for the 2020-21 campaign.
De Bruyne could potentially break a lot of records if he decides to prolong his stay with Man City. However, he needs to win the UEFA Champions League desperately to cement his place amongst the all-time greats. Therefore, staying at Manchester and helping his current employers be crowned as the European champions could propel him into becoming a club legend.
