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Topics: Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Champions League, Premier League, Kevin De Bruyne
Chris Nee
Topics: Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Champions League, Premier League, Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is leaving the club at the end of the season but he could yet have a future in the Premier League.
De Bruyne announced his impending departure from City in an emotional statement at the beginning of April.
Links with Saudi Pro League clubs emerged immediately and Major League Soccer clubs have been queuing up to take him to the United States.
Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, DC United and City Football Group-owned New York City have all reportedly explored the necessary MLS transactions needed to sign the Belgian.
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A link-up with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, the club that holds De Bruyne's rights in MLS and would have to trade them away in order for anyone else to bring him in, appeared to be his favoured move.
But it's now understood that De Bruyne is reluctant to uproot his family for a swansong in Florida and some ears have pricked up in the recruitment teams of the Premier League.
Sky Sports News reports that Aston Villa have held 'internal discussions' about the possibility of signing the six-time Premier League winner, who played 89 minutes in Man City's vital win over the Villans on Tuesday.
"It is the final year of his current contract and Villa could be interested in signing the 33-year-old midfielder when he departs City," writes Melissa Reddy.
"De Bruyne's reluctance to uproot his family and prioritising his football and home life when making a decision on his next destination has alerted several Premier League clubs.
The chances of those conversations developing into concrete interest on Villa's part are slim, though stranger things have happened.
Villa must adhere to profit and sustainability rules and signing a veteran on big wages – even one of De Bruyne's immense quality – could cause as many problems as it solves.
Ollie Watkins would command a healthy transfer fee if he is sold in the summer but a top-level striker would become an immediate priority.
De Bruyne's powers are on the wane but he's shown enough when fit to prove he would still improve almost any team.
While the Saudi Pro League and MLS would value the him as a prestige signing, City's Premier League rivals must also factor in his age and the lack of sell-on fee in any decision about a surprise move.