Man City 'line up £68m Kevin De Bruyne replacement' as Saudi exit edges closer

Manchester City have reportedly identified Eberechi Eze as a potential Kevin De Bruyne replacement, with the Belgian attracting keen interest from Saudi Arabia.

De Bruyne has hinted he would be open to a Saudi switch in the past, revealing the ‘incredible amounts of money’ on offer could tempt him to leave.

And should the 33-year-old depart East Manchester this summer, it’s reported by The Mirror that Eze would be City’s ideal replacement.

City have held a long-standing interest in the Crystal Palace gem, with the Blues said to have launched an 11th-hour attempt to sign him on deadline day last summer.

Such a move didn’t materialise, but that wouldn’t stop City from returning for Eze, who is believed to boast a £68million release clause in his contract at Selhurst Park.

If the reigning Premier League champions solidify their interest in the attacker, it’s expected they’d have few problems in fending off the growing competition for his signature.

Tottenham are one side rumoured to have taken a liking to the England ace, but a move to the Etihad would prove too good to turn down.

The report claims the Palace star’s ‘low-maintenance temperament and his versatility’ is particularly appealing to Pep Guardiola, with Eze adept at playing in a number of different positions.

Eze’s quality was on display throughout the 2024/25 campaign, where he bagged 11 goals and provided a further four assists for the Eagles.

Nine of his 15 goal contributions last term came in just 11 games under new boss Oliver Glasner, whose reinvigorated Palace side climbed up to 10th in the table.

But despite his impressive outings, Eze would arrive at the Etihad – should he put pen to paper on a move after De Bruyne’s mooted exit – with gigantic shoes to fill.

Signing just under a decade ago, De Bruyne has lit up English and European football, having notched up 102 goals and 170 assists in just under 400 matches for City.

However, the 33-year-old appears to be at a fork in the road, as just one year remains on his City contract, with talks about a renewal having been stuttering along for some time.

Al-Ittihad could look to use the uncertainty with his future to their advantage and it’s claimed by the report that De Bruyne is ‘expected to agree a deal’ with the Saudi club.

Any deal would likely command a hefty fee, with City unlikely to let the man heralded by Guardiola as one of the club’s greatest-ever players leave without a fight.