On the back of his impressive form for Manchester City this season, Belgium International Kevin De Bruyne is on the verge of agreeing a new contract that will keep him at the North West Club for the foreseeable future. The new deal will include a bumber pay rise that will resonate with the playmaker’s outstanding performances that have seen him emerge as one of the World’s best players and a future Balloon D’or contender.
De Bruyne–26– has been in imperious form and is an integral part of a Pep Guardiola’s team that has lost just once in all competitions this season. The Belgian ace, who is an early season contender for PFA best player award, has been in fine scoring form with his seven goals so far in the season a respectable turn out for a player whose eye for the final pass has been heralded as second to known.
The former Chelsea midfielder has perhaps saved his best performances for the biggest matches of the season, delivering in City’s games against fellow title contenders. His goal against Tottenham in City’s 4-1 win at the Etihad on Saturday had helped reinforced his burgeoning reputation as a big game player following his match winning strike against Chelsea and an assist for Otamendi’s winner in the 2:1 win over Manchester United which proved particularly crucial as it helped break United’s 40 game unbeaten streak on the hallowed ground of Old Trafford and created an 11 points gap between City and Jose Mourinho’s side who are on second.
De Bruyne whose Belgium side will be facing England in next Summer’s World Cup mundial at the Iberian peninsula–Russia– moved to City from Wolfsburg two-and-a-half years ago,following an unhappy stint with Premier League outfit Chelsea. The Belgian was infamously sold for a paltry 18 million Pounds in a move sanctioned by erstwhile manager-Jose Mourinho-whose inability to nurture youngsters, seemingly preferring established performers in his first team, has seen him face series of criticism in his trophy laden career.
However, Chelsea’s loss has been City’s gain as the side, who are backed by the riches of Abu Dhabi, are on the back of a historic winning run in the Premier League and have been tipped to emulate Arsenal’s legendary invincibles who went a whole season unbeaten in 2003/2004 premier league season and this has been aided by De Bruyne creative genius which has seen him not only scoring but creating chances at will. The Belgian has formed a telepathic understanding with Spanish midfied wizard–David Silva–and the pair have a premier high of eight assists this season to accentuate their positions as arguably the most creative players on the planet based on current form.
De Bruyne recently said he was enjoying life in Manchester, telling City’s matchday programme: “I’ve no feeling to go anywhere else and enjoy being part of the project here and playing the kind of football we are playing.
“The team is going in the right direction and that’s also important. I made the right decision coming to City and my family feels the same so everything is good.”
It is equally understood that City’s hierarchy are also eager to agree terms with midfield enforcer–Fernandinho– whose current deal runs till the Summer and pending an agreement will be eligible to move on for free according to the BOSMAN ruling.
An improved contract is also thought to be in the offing for striker Gabriel Jesus. The 20-year-old was signed by City for £27m in the summer of 2016 from Brazilian side Palmeiras and joined the club last summer.
The Brazil international has scored 17 goals in 35 appearances for City, including 10 goals this season.