KEVIN DE BRUYNE will be offered a new six-year deal worth £210,000 a week, according to widespread British media reports.
The Belgian international is currently joint-top of the Premier League assists charts with City team-mates David Silva and Leroy Sane, in addition to scoring six top-flight goals since the start of the season.
He has been instrumental in Man City’s record-breaking run that has prompted many critics to suggest the Premier League title race is already all but over.
In the wake of Saturday’s impressive 4-1 win over Tottenham, Jamie Redknapp labelled De Bruyne “the best passer the Premier League has ever seen” in his Daily Mail column.
Manager Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, was also full of praise for his player, after last weekend’s emphatic victory.
“Kevin is one of the most talented players and you see how he runs without the ball,” said the City manager.
“You cannot imagine how good he plays with the ball, but he runs like a player in the Conference (semi-professional) league.
“It’s a good example for the young players, for our academy, for Phil Foden, for Brahim (Diaz). They know how good Kevin De Bruyne is. And when they see how he runs and he fights without the ball, that is the best example.
“He helps us to be a better club, a better institution for the future. Because that is what we want to do. His performance today, I have no words.”
According to the Telegraph, the 26-year-old’s contract talks are at an advanced stage, amid reported interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Similarly, it is understood that key players Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Ederson are all in line for new deals.
Additional reporting by AFP
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Best passer ever in the Premier League? Didn’t know they were signing Paul Scholes
@Johnny: Not even Paul himself is deluded enough to think he has a patch on KDB.
@Al-Macca: stop kid, undoubtedly he’s the best passer currently. However de bruyne is doing it a season and half. I can think of scholes, gerrard, alonso, bergkamp, lampard, they all done it a lot longer than de bruyne and arguably as well if not better.
@Al-Macca: Skill and Flair wise De Bruyne would take some beating, but as far as being the best passer the league has ever seen, that’s a very premature statement.
@Johnny: Paul Scholes is the most overrated player of all time.
@Simon Brogan: you’re drunk Simon go home.
Can the be compared with Scholes yet…..
@Simon Brogan: ah come on fella, that just sounds bitter, if anything Scholes was underrated and I say that as a Liverpool fan. The guy was a genius on the ball but rubbish in the tackle.
That would be great business if they get it done. For a ‘flair’ player his work ethic is incredible. The amount of goals he has set up this year by dispossessing the opposition, before crossing for a teammate, is incredible.
@William Boland: brilliant player but very premature to call him the best ever.
@Bognor regis: I never said he was, but after two and a half years and 45 assists, I think you can begin to make that argument.
@Bognor regis: and it’s not just the assists, it is the key passes as well. Like the 1 to Sane to set up Sterling against Stoke. Doesn’t count as an assist, but there are not many people who would be able to make that.
@William Boland: relax the cacks pet, I was agreeing with you while disagreeing with the assertion in the article.
@Bognor regis: and I’m just pointing out why the article is not that far-fetched. We can discuss it without you getting your knickers in a twist.
@William Boland: Xavi Hernandez: Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he’s the best central midfielder I’ve seen in the last 15, 20 years.
I’ve spoken to Xabi Alonso about him. He’s spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he’s strong, he doesn’t lose the ball, vision. If he’d been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.
Socrates (Brazil): Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.
Zinedine Zidane: My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation.
@William Boland: Pep Guardiola
Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.”
Andreas Pirlo
The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders.”
@William Boland: Lionel Messi
At La Masia (Barcelona’s training ground) his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.
Cristiano Ronaldo
“Scholes is the best I’ve played with and he helped me a lot when I was young. He’s amazing.”
KDB is without doubt a great player but until the best of the best sing his praises the headline is bull.
Liam Brady?
@Paul Mcnevin: football didn’t exist before the premier league
@Hurt Stoogie: What is a ‘Liam Brady’?
Man
@Brian: city are the best thing ever to happen ever