Chelsea has drawn the line at signing Kevin De Bruyne (34, Manchester City). While there is a desire to add experienced players, De Bruyne is considered an exception.

On the 26th (Korean time), the British 'Telegraph' reported that "Chelsea does not plan to re-sign De Bruyne, who will leave Manchester City as a free agent this summer."

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said, "I want to add experienced players in the summer transfer market," but it is known that De Bruyne is not included on the list.

De Bruyne has been a 'symbol' of lifting every trophy at Manchester City over the past decade. This season, he is also preparing to achieve success in the FA Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. In a recent match against Crystal Palace, he contributed to the team's victory by giving his all without any complacency. Nevertheless, he is reportedly already in transfer negotiations with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire.

Some fans expressed disappointment at the club's decision, asking, "Why wasn't a new contract offered to De Bruyne?" However, Carragher noted that he could understand the situation.

Carragher stated on the 'Stick To Football' podcast, "Salah and Van Dijk are still starting every week, playing 40 to 50 matches in a season. There is a reason for paying them high wages."

He continued, "De Bruyne's appearances have decreased over the past few seasons. He is one of my favorite players, but from the club's perspective, paying him a wage of £400,000 (about 760 million won) must have been a concern."

In fact, De Bruyne has struggled with various injuries in recent years. He has managed to return this season, appearing in 35 matches, but he was limited to just 26 matches last season (2023-2024). Repeated injuries can only worsen over time.

Chelsea's Maresca shares a similar view. He emphasized, "Whether we qualify for the Champions League will have a significant impact on our transfer plans," but the experience he seeks is not just 'an aged star' but players who have consistently appeared in the first team.

Chelsea has previously kept an eye on Virgil van Dijk but shifted their target after he re-signed with Liverpool. De Bruyne is considered one of the representative players Chelsea has missed in the past, but it seems they will not act this time.

De Bruyne moved from Chelsea to VfL Wolfsburg in 2014 and has since made a name for himself as a Premier League legend at Manchester City. However, he has recently been evaluated as visibly aging compared to Van Dijk. Furthermore, bringing in De Bruyne would also raise concerns about positional overlap with Cole Palmer, who has had a breakout season.

The Telegraph reported that "Chelsea will target young players who have gained first-team experience in various leagues instead of bringing in De Bruyne." This means securing experienced players who can meaningfully contribute to the team's strength rather than merely bringing in older veterans.

Chelsea is currently positioned just below the Champions League qualification spots (top 5) in the Premier League. Manager Maresca expressed that "the experience young players gain this season will be a greater help next season," indicating a commitment to long-term growth potential.

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