Kevin De Bruyne (34, Manchester City) may remain in the Premier League (PL). Aston Villa, which is engaged in a fierce ranking battle with Manchester City, is pursuing De Bruyne's acquisition.

British 'Sky Sports' reported on the 24th (Korean time) that "Villa held internal discussions about the possibility of acquiring midfielder De Bruyne, who is leaving Manchester City." It added, "De Bruyne announced that this season will be his last at Etihad Stadium. He is in the final year of his contract, and Villa could be interested in signing him when he leaves City."

The media noted that "De Bruyne is reluctant to uproot his family when deciding on his next destination and prioritizing football and 'home life' has raised alarms among several PL clubs. Currently, four clubs in Major League Soccer (MLS) – Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, New York FC, and D.C. United – have inquired about his professional and financial expectations."

Serie A Como is also checking the possibility of bringing in De Bruyne. Como, which has the famous playmaker Cesc Fabregas as its manager, has notable players like Dele Alli, Pepe Reina, Sergi Roberto, and Alberto Moreno, and plans to add De Bruyne to the team.

De Bruyne recently declared his farewell to Manchester City. He announced through social media on the 4th, "This season will be the last few months as a City player. It's not easy to write this, but as a player, it's a situation you have to face eventually. Manchester will be a name forever remembered by our family," and stated that he would leave the team as soon as his contract expires.

De Bruyne also said, "Like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye now. Manchester will always remain in the hearts and passports of my family," adding, "This place will always be our home. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone in this city, the club staff, teammates, friends, and family for being with me during the past 10 years."

Born in 1991, De Bruyne is one of the legends who will go down in Premier League history. Since donning the Manchester City jersey in 2015, he has won the Premier League title six times, the UEFA Champions League (UCL) once, the FA Cup twice, and the England Football League Cup (EFL Cup) five times under manager Pep Guardiola.

However, time could not be defeated. De Bruyne's absence due to injury has increased progressively. Even after his return, he often started on the bench to manage his playing time, ultimately deciding to end his 10-year partnership with Manchester City.

De Bruyne's future has also drawn significant interest. In particular, Inter Miami has emerged as a strong candidate. The excitement is palpable as De Bruyne could join the luxurious lineup featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

This is because Miami has obtained De Bruyne's "Discovery Rights." This gives Miami the right to negotiate first if De Bruyne moves to MLS. Originally, De Bruyne's discovery rights belonged to the new team, San Diego FC, but they returned to Miami after San Diego relinquished them.

Chicago has also started its pursuit of acquiring De Bruyne. European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported, "Chicago seeks to bring De Bruyne in as a free agent (FA). He plans to evaluate all options in the coming days and weeks. However, Chicago is currently showing strong interest in the project to acquire him. The transaction has started."

New York City and D.C. United have also entered negotiations. It is known that De Bruyne prefers the United States over Saudi Arabia due to family issues, prompting their involvement in the acquisition race. According to 'The Athletic', both clubs have begun exploring negotiations to bring him to the U.S.

However, the possibility that De Bruyne may remain in England cannot be ruled out. In fact, he recently revealed that he was effectively pushed out of Manchester City, expressing his desire to continue playing on the highest stage. When asked if he is considering staying in the Premier League, he responded that he is open to all possibilities.

De Bruyne said, "I'm open to everything. I'm considering sports and family, looking at what is best for me and my family." He added, "I have not received any offers throughout the year, and Manchester City made the decision. I was certainly a bit surprised, but I have to accept it. Honestly, I still believe I can play at the highest level like I do now."

This seems to have led Villa to urgently discuss the acquisition of De Bruyne. His desire to maintain his family's life is also a positive aspect for Villa.

If De Bruyne and his wife, along with their two young sons and daughter, want to remain in England instead of adapting to a new environment, there is a possibility we may see him sporting the Villa jersey against Manchester City as rivals. Currently, Manchester City has 61 points, while Villa has 57 points, engaging in a ranking battle.

In fact, De Bruyne turned down a move to Saudi due to concerns about his children's education and living environment. Last summer, the British 'Daily Star' reported, "De Bruyne discussed a move to Saudi Arabia with his wife, Michelle. Michelle is hesitant about their children relocating. The couple is particularly reluctant to change schools for their 8-year-old son, Mason Million."

[Photo] Backpost UK, Sportskida, Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, City HQ, 365 Scores social media.

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