The Belgian playmaker will bring a curtain on his 10-year spell with the Citizens this summer.
Aston Villa are plotting a shock move for Kevin De Bruyne that would see Manchester City superstar head to Villa Park on a free transfer next season – according to a report.
The 33-year-old has already confirmed that he will leave the reigning Premier League champions when his contract expires in June after a glorious 10-year spell in Manchester where he has lifted six league titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.
De Bruyne has been linked with a potential move to Inter Miami in the MLS where he would team up with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, but a fresh report now claims that he may well end up staying in the Premier League.
Sky Sports state that Villa chiefs have held talks about potentially making an audacious move for the 109-time Belgium cap.
The report adds that the club are confident that De Bruyne’s reluctance to relocate his family to another country after 10 years in England could give them the edge in persuading the midfielder to sign on in the West-Midlands.
As well as Miami and fellow MLS sides Chicago Fire, New York City FC – part of the City Group – and D.C United, clubs in the Premier League are also said to be keeping tabs on the situation.
Serie A high-flyers Como – who are owned by Indonesian billionaires Michael and Robert Hartono – have also held talks over whether a deal for the playmaker is possible.
Villa’s chances of landing De Bruyne could hinge on whether they are able to qualify for the Champions League once again.
Unai Emery’s team currently occupy seventh spot in the Premier League with just four games remaining but are just two points behind 5th placed Newcastle and three adrift of Nottingham Forest in fourth.
The Midlands side enjoyed a decent run in Europe’s premiere competition this season.
They secured a top eight finish in the revamped league phase to progress directly to the last 16.
Viilla trashed Club Brugge 6-1 over two legs before going out to Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 on aggregate in a thrilling quarter final match-up.
However, the season could finish with the club ending their 29-year-long wait for a trophy.
Villa face Crystal Palace in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday, with the winners going onto take on the victors of the other last four clash between Man City and Nottingham Forest.
The Villains lasted lifted silverware under the management of Brian Little, who led the side to a EFL Cup triumph in 1996.
