Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is willing to listen to offers from Saudi Pro League clubs, prompting the Premier League champions to draw up a list of potential replacements, according to CaughtOffside.com.
The website claims that the Belgian international is attracting interest from both Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr and the player is said to be prepared to sit down and hold talks with the two teams.
De Bruyne has less than a year left on his contract at the Etihad and the Cityzens have not entered negotiations with the midfielder over an extension.
It likely means that the club are anticipating the 33-year-old’s departure, and Caught Offside say three players have been added to a shortlist of possible successors.
Who is being targeted to replace De Bruyne?
Benfica’s Joao Neves, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Paris Saint-Germain’s Xavi Simons are the trio of names that could be pursued this summer if De Bruyne leaves.
However, all three would be difficult to sign. Neves has other suitors, including Manchester United and Arsenal, while Benfica are unwilling to sell him for less than €120m (£102m).
Neither Wirtz nor Simons are likely to be sold by their respective clubs either so the Cityzens may have to splash the clash if they want to recruit any of them.
Another City star is attracting interest from the Middle East
De Bruyne is not the only regular starter who has been targeted by Saudi clubs. It has been reported that Ederson has been offered a €30m a year, two-year contract to join Al-Nassr.
The Brazilian international would earn roughly £489,000 a week if he accepts the proposal, which is almost five times what he is currently getting at City. We shall have to wait and see whether either player is tempted by the riches on offer.