Kevin De Bruyne could be 'blacklisted' from the Saudi Pro League if he completes transfer due to agent rule

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne could effectively be 'blacklisted' from moving to the Saudi Pro League if his agent breaks a specific rule, according to a report.

De Bruyne is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and has been linked with a transfer away from the club.

Reports emerged over the weekend that the 33-year-old had agreed personal terms with Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.

But Fabrizio Romano says that is not the case, with Al Ittihad instead focusing on closing out a move for Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby.

And the Saudi club are said to also be interested in signing De Bruyne's City team-mate Ederson.

The Belgian, however, has refused to publicly rule out a big-money move away from Manchester, telling VTM that he could earn an 'incredible amount of money' in Saudi Arabia.

While Diaby's impending move will represent another big deal for the Saudi Pro League, the increase in spending over recent summers has brought with it a strict rule - and it could potentially affect De Bruyne in the event of his agent breaking it.

According to The New York Times, the transfer of any player who commands an annual salary of $3 million (around £2.34 million at the time of writing) would have to be approved by the league.

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But another more pertinent rule links to the use of agents in transfer deals.

A host of Saudi Pro League sides have often been linked to the same player since the Gulf state's Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired majority stakes in four of the clubs last year.

But there is a rule that, should any player or agent be found to be using one team as a 'bargaining chip' against another to elicit a more lucrative salary, they would be 'immediately blacklisted'.