Why Manchester City should hand fresh terms to Kevin De Bruyne

According to Daily Mail, Manchester City are willing to open negotiations with midfield star Kevin De Bruyne over a new contract.

De Bruyne, 28, came through Genk’s youth system but never made a big impact while at Chelsea. He then featured for Bundesliga sides Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg before Manchester City signed him in the summer of 2015.

Since his return to England, De Bruyne has been one of the best playmakers in the country. He has established himself at the Etihad while making 209 appearances for the club. The Belgian has had a hand in most of the titles City have won in the past five years.

However, after missing the majority of the last season due to a knee and hamstring injuries, he has been at the top of his game this season.

Pep Guardiola’s men have struggled to defend the Premier League title this season as Liverpool have taken a huge lead in the race. Despite the team lacking consistency, De Bruyne has delivered in almost every game. He was their top assist provider in the two seasons before the last campaign and has once again proven his worth this year.

If not for the 28-year-old, City would have not dominated the Premier League as they did in their previous title-winning campaigns. He has run the show for a long time and has been improving every time he takes to the field.

The former Chelsea man has also been a key figure in the Belgium national squad, helping the team reach the semi-finals of the last World Cup alongside star forward Eden Hazard. His performances for both club and country also earned him the captain’s armband under Guardiola.

De Bruyne has dominated the midfield for quite a long time and can show up in big games. He was at his best against Real Madrid in the Champions League a few days back, as City are one foot away from qualifying for the quarter-finals stage.

He has been brilliant alongside Fernandinho and David Silva in Manchester City’s midfield and still has a lot more to offer. Hence, City should be aware of his game-changing qualities and tie him down.

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Verdict

De Bruyne has shown no signs of slowing and Manchester City should make use of him as he is enjoying one of his most productive seasons at the Etihad.

Therefore, City must hand him a new contract at the earliest and retain his presence for a few more years.