Manchester City are yet to solve one of the most difficult issues that will present itself to a Premier League side this summer: how do they replace Kevin De Bruyne? The Belgian legend will depart the Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, after years of success.
He has played 419 times for the Citizens, scoring 108 goals and providing an extraordinary 177 assists. Of course, the real highlight for De Bruyne in that famous Sky Blue shirt was the treble success of 2022/23, which included the club’s first Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola’s side appear to be lining up potential replacements, ahead of the summer window, with a handful of names already being thrown into the mix.
Man City's search to replace De Bruyne
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on Tuesday evening that Guardiola’s side ‘have contacted AC Milan to express interest’ in Dutchman Tijjani Reijnders.
Ornstein outlined that no formal offer has yet been made, although early talks are underway for the playmaker – with that news coming amid prior links to both Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz.
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One Premier League star who could also be in demand this summer, meanwhile, is Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze. The England international has had yet another impressive campaign for the Eagles, and could be in line to depart the club this summer.
According to a recent report from Football Insider, City are the side who are perhaps best placed to sign Eze. If the London-born star performs well against City in this weekend’s FA Cup final, the club could ‘launch an approach to sign the midfielder as soon as possible’.
However, Eze, who has a £60m release clause in his contract, will also be a target for other English top-flight clubs. Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa could all make a move for the England international this summer.
Why Eze would be a good signing
It has been yet another standout season in South London for 26-year-old Eze, who has been a key man under Oliver Glasner. The attacking midfielder has helped his side to an FA Cup final this weekend against City, where they can qualify for Europe with a win.
Eze has made 40 appearances across all competitions this term and has chipped in with an impressive 12 goals and 11 assists. In four FA Cup appearances, he has managed to find the back of the net three times and has provided one goal for his teammates.
The recent form from the Palace number 10 is perhaps exactly why City want to bring him to East Manchester this summer. In the last seven Premier League games, he has managed seven goal involvements, with five of those goals, including two against Spurs last weekend.
Whilst Eze has shown excellent form of late and could be subject to a bid from City soon, he is evidently not the only target they have to replace De Bruyne, amid those reports surrounding Reijnders.
Just as Eze has been important for Palace this season, so too has Reijnders in that famous Black and Red shirt of the Rossoneri.
He has 15 goals and five assists in 51 games, which is fewer goal contributions than the Eagles star has in more games.
Reijnders was once described as “one of the best ball-carrying midfielders on the planet” by Statman Dave. When looking at the stats on FBref for both the Dutchman and Eze, it is perhaps clear what City are looking for.
That is to say, Guardiola seems like he would like to add more ball-carrying prowess to his side. As the stats show, Eze averages 2.29 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, compared to Reijnders’ 1.1 successful take-ons each game.
Key passes
1.96
1.34
Goal-creating actions
4.68
3.27
Take-ons completed
2.29
1.1
Progressive carries
2.39
3.32
Ball recoveries
4.89
3.35
Described as a “magic” player by football analyst Antonio Mango, Eze could be an excellent alternative to Reijnders for City this summer. He fits the ball-carrying profile Guardiola seems to want, whilst also bringing goals and assists.
For a fee of £60m, this seems like it could be an excellent deal for City, and could really increase the quality they have in attacking areas.
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