Manchester City transfer news: Why Kevin De Bruyne is perfect for the club

Kevin De Bruyne has been tearing it up in Germany this season and as a result, has been linked with a £35m transfer to Man City. Here, WhoScored.com runs the rule over the 23-year-old. For lots more great football stats, check out WhoScored.com.

 

Manchester City failed to defend their Premier League crown this season, so the pressure will be on them to come back stronger next term and wrestle the title back from Chelsea.

The Citizens have been linked with a host of big name players in Europe to adequately strengthen their challenge and, given their financial power, are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window.

An overhaul in the attacking third is rumoured. Frank Lampard will leave for MLS at the end of the season, while James Milner may depart the club having, so far, failed to sign a new contract with the former champions.

In a bid to swell their creative ranks, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been linked with a move for Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, who has enjoyed a fine campaign with Wolfsburg, reinforced by his impressive 7.95 rating on WhoScored.com this season; only Arjen Robben (8.48) has gained better in Germany’s Bundesliga.

“At the moment, I’d call him unsellable,” Wolfsburg CEO Klaus Allofs said following Die Wolfe’s 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. De Bruyne's 20 assists is more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season and a player of his ilk would undoubtedly benefit a City side looking to improve.

Of the other City players, Jesus Navas and Sergio Aguero have the most league assists at the club this campaign with eight. However, given Aguero’s goalscoring ability, he should not be the player tasked with creating chances for his team-mates. The Argentine has scored 25 Premier League goals, more than any other player in England’s top tier this term, and a creator of De Bruyne’s quality would likely add to that figure.

Only Dimitri Payet with 127, has played more key passes in Europe’s top five league this season than De Bruyne's 107, accentuating his statistically calculated strength in this area on WhoScored.com. With Aguero able to consistently score, the chances De Bruyne creates would not be wasted.

It is not just De Bruyne’s creative capability that stands him in good stead either. Ten league goals is a commendable return for the Belgium international and is beaten only by Aguero and David Silva, who has scored 12 times, of all City players this season.

De Bruyne is one of only nine players in Europe’s top five leagues this campaign to register double figures for both goals and assists, with his finishing and creative ability both of the standard expected of one of the most sought after talents on the Continent.

Wolfsburg are reluctant to sell their prized asset this summer, but, barring any Financial Fair Play regulations, City boast the spending power to convince the Bundesliga side to part with De Bruyne. The former Chelsea attacker has been, without question, one of the star performers in Germany this season and at just 23 years of age, will only improve. If City indeed opt to revamp their midfield this summer, they would be wise to target the Wolfsburg star as they look to rejuvenate their ageing squad in a bid to secure glory next season.