Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne waves to supporters after playing his last match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
AFP
Dubai: **Kevin De Bruyne’s** move to Napoli has stalled due to club’s managerial uncertainty, with rumours emerging that he could continue in the Premier League (goal.com)
De Bruyne was on top of **Napoli’s** wish list earlier this week, but there are no guarantees that the midfielder, who is leaving Manchester City after a decade, will land with the southern club.
At Napoli, De Bruyne could reunite with Belgium teammate Romelu Lukaku, should the deal be finalised. The Belgian, who will turn 34 next month, will follow in the footsteps of former Napoli great Dries Mertens, another Belgium teammate.
**Gulf News verdict:** It all depends on current Napoli coach Antonio Conte’s decision. If he stays, there is a high chance of KDB moving to Naples. MLS club Chicago Fire is also pursuing him, but the latest rumour from The Independent states that he could remain in the Premier League. At 33, he is still a fantastic player who can contribute to any top club. Can Aston Villa make a move? However, KDB still wants to play in the Champions League. It all depends on Conte’s decision, though.
**Antonio Conte** has been offered a new contract at Napoli with an improved salary. They want him to STAY. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)
**Gulf News verdict:** This is Napoli’s main priority for the summer. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis must retain this serial winner at the club, who has just delivered them the Scudetto. If he stays, many stars will follow, enabling them to win more trophies in the coming seasons as well. Should he remain, players like Jonathan David, KDB, etc. will join.
Chelsea are closing in on a move for **Liam Delap** after positive talks. Man United’s lack of European football has weakened their position. Newcastle and Everton have also held talks, but Delap is now leaning towards **Chelsea** (Alex Crook — Talk Sport)
**Gulf News verdict:** Chelsea are the newly crowned Uefa Conference League champions and have already qualified for the Champions League. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca knows him very well from their Man City academy days, and a reunion with him is genuinely on the cards. Manchester United don’t have Champions League football, and Chelsea’s project is far more exciting than those of Newcastle or Everton. The £30M release clause and wage demands fall under Chelsea’s new structure perfectly.
**Real Madrid** are pushing to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger **Florian Wirtz** now that Xabi Alonso has been unveiled as the new manager, despite the 22-year-old being strongly tipped to join Liverpool. (Source: AS)
**Gulf News verdict:** I understand how this rumour has emerged, but I don’t believe it will happen, even though Wirtz has played his best football under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. I can see Wirtz joining Liverpool, as they have already laid significant groundwork for this deal, and I believe it’s just a matter of finalising the fee structure. I can understand that when Real Madrid enters the picture, it’s going to complicate things, but Liverpool fans don’t need to worry about this one. They are getting the German wizard.
_— From code to kick-off: Gulf News’ Mohammed Shamsheer spends his weekdays in DevOps and weekends watching football — a proud Chelsea supporter through and through._
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