Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces arguably his most important summer transfer window since he took charge of the club back in 2016.
He could finish the season empty-handed for the first time since that maiden campaign, something which may fuel his desire to enhance his first-team squad before another go at winning the Premier League and Champions League in 2025/26.
Of course, the Spaniard used the winter transfer window to excellent effect, signing four players and spending around £180m in the process.
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These signings could pay dividends next season, forming the bedrock of what Guardiola will hope is his final great team at the Etihad.
There could well be plenty of movement in the other direction too, especially as the club will need to sell a few high-profile stars in order to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.
Kevin De Bruyne’s future has been in question over the previous few months. The Belgian star has just a few months left on his current contract with the club.
Will he sign an extension? Or is his time in the Premier League coming to an end?
The latest on Kevin De Bruyne's future at Man City
In February, Guardiola provided an update on De Bruyne’s future, saying: "I think in that situation he has to decide, that is the most important thing. He’s completely honest with himself, to decide what he feels and what he can do in the next period of his life. He’s 34 in the summer and he has to decide, like what happened with David Silva for example."
Now, according to reports from the Mirror over the weekend, De Bruyne has reportedly held talks to join MLS side San Diego once his City contract expires, but no decision has been made on whether he'll make the move.
De Bruyne-1
There are reportedly offers on the table from the Saudi Pro League, with one last big payday reportedly available for the player, who will turn 34 in the summer.
With the 2026 World Cup just over a year away, De Bruyne has a big decision to make, that’s for sure.
Why it's time for De Bruyne to move on
The 33-year-old is currently in his tenth season at the club, making over 400 competitive appearances, scoring 106 goals and registering 174 assists.
It is no secret that the Drongen-born star has been one of the club’s most important signings in their recent history, helping City win six Premier League crowns and the Champions League in 2023.
De Bruyne was limited to just 18 league appearances last year as injury issues hampered his campaign, yet he still averaged 2.4 shots per game and registered 3.3 key passes per game in the top flight.
Kevin De Bruyne's Man City statistics
Season
2023/24
2022/23
2021/22
2020/21
2019/20
2018/19
2017/18
2016/17
2015/16
Via Transfermarkt
These statistics prove that when on the field, he was keen on contributing effectively in the final third.
Across 20 appearances this term, these numbers have dropped to 1.9 shots and 2.1 key passes per game. With eight of these appearances coming from the bench, plus a drop in his usual high standards, is the end near for the midfielder?
If he does leave, they will need to find a new permanent skipper.
Man City's next captain after De Bruyne.
It's safe to say that Ballon d'Or winner Rodri could be the perfect candidate.
Indeed, if De Bruyne is one of the club’s best signings from an attacking point of view, then Rodri must be classed in a similar sort of bracket. He is a player who can dominate games from the heart of the midfield while providing effective defensive support.
The Spaniard has made 260 appearances for the club at the time of writing, registering 56 goal contributions in the process.
Although he was a solid signing initially, it took him a few years to finally get the plaudits he deserved. During the 2022/23 title-winning season, Rodri succeeded with a staggering 92% of his passes across 34 games.
The midfielder also made 2.1 tackles, won 5.9 of his total duels and recovered 6.9 balls per game in the top flight, helping City win their fourth crown on the spin.
It was a sensational individual season and he went even better last term with the 28-year-old ranking in the top 1% for passes attempted (112.26) and progressive passes (11.55) per 90 when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League.
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Last summer, he played a key role for Spain during their victorious 2024 European Championship-winning campaign as the country sealed their fourth win in the competition.
These performances for both club and country saw Rodri claim the Ballon d'Or for 2024 last October, pipping Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr in the process.
Following this win, Kyle Walker lavished plenty of praise on his teammate in the aftermath, saying: "For him, it's absolutely fantastic. I think he's been nothing short of probably perfect in the last couple of seasons. You can see what he means to Man City.”
Rodri Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament
His value has subsequently also soared over the previous few years.
The midfielder cost City an initial transfer fee in the region of £62.8m, which was a club record back in the summer of 2019.
Since then, however, his value has reached astronomical heights due to his wonderful performances since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
According to Transfermarkt, Rodri is currently worth €130m (£109m) and if he can return to the level which saw him win plenty in 2024 upon his injury recovery, this value will rise even further.
Rodri-Man-City
If De Bruyne does depart the Etihad this summer, Guardiola will need to find a new captain heading into the 2025/26 season.
While there are a few candidates for the potentially vacant role, Rodri must be the player who replaces the Belgian.
City have struck gold on the former Atlético Madrid midfielder since his move to the Premier League in 2019, who has turned out to be the best player on the planet.
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