Leagues: EPL

Kevin de Bruyne is a transfer target for Manchester City

kevin-de-bruyne

Reported Manchester City target Kevin de Bruyne turned out for current club Wolfsburg when they faced Arsenal in the Emirates Cup on Sunday.

The 24-year-old is believed to be a major transfer target for Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium and here, Press Association Sport's Mark Bryans takes a look at his performance in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

GOAL THREAT

Only offered a central threat on a few occasions but should have done much better on 55 minutes when, having drifted inside and beaten two defenders, he could only fire high and wide of Petr Cech's goal.

TEAMWORK

De Bruyne produced an eye-catching 21 assists in the Bundesliga last season and that looked to be his main focus again at the Emirates as former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner should have done better with two crosses in the first half.

Hector Bellerin has won acclaim for his performances during his early Arsenal career but he struggled to shackle the Belgium international throughout.

CROWD REACTION

As a former Chelsea player and potentially future City star, De Bruyne was jeered by an almost-full Emirates Stadium for much of the game – especially when he was replaced with just over an hour on the clock. He also received ironic cheers after his wayward effort.

OVERALL

De Bruyne certainly seems like a player who could create plenty of goalscoring opportunities were he to move to Manchester City – with their impressive strike-force likely to benefit from such an arrival.

He may not score as many goals as Pellegrini would want but laying on chances for the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Bony could make him an inspired acquisition.

 

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