Manchester City star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has admitted that he is “open” to potentially joining a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a> team. The Middle Eastern division has experienced a boom in recent years by signing several stars from European clubs. Top players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Sadio Mane, and Riyad Mahrez have all joined Saudi sides on huge new deals.



De Bruyne currently has one more year remaining on his contract at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">City</a>. The star’s future has been a hot topic for months now. Manager Pep Guardiola has been quite vocal about wanting his midfielder to sign a new deal at the club. Former teammate Sergio Aguero even recently <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sergio-aguero-predicts-big-bernardo-29071649" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suggested</a> that De Bruyne would resist a transfer because he is still “vital” to City.



<h2>Midfielder would earn raise on current $26.5 million salary with Middle East move</h2>



Nevertheless, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/belgium-national-team-tv-schedule/">Belgium</a> international has fueled speculation about a potential move away from the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> champions. De Bruyne recently sat down with the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws to discuss his future and the Saudi Arabian link. The 32-year-old star has been on international duty since City wrapped up their 2023/24 campaign.



“I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen,” De Bruyne <a href="https://www.hln.be/rode-duivels/exclusief-kevin-de-bruyne-sluit-transfer-naar-saoedi-arabie-niet-uit-voor-michele-is-een-exotisch-avontuur-oke~a3de3489/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> the newspaper. “At my age, you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.”



“If I play [in Saudi Arabia] for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that, I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="666" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240604_WST_510143_De-Bruyne-Saudi-Arabia-1200x666_248fa5c2.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=666" alt="" class="wp-image-510181" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/De-Bruyne-Saudi-Arabia-1200x666.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/De-Bruyne-Saudi-Arabia-300x167.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/De-Bruyne-Saudi-Arabia-768x426.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/De-Bruyne-Saudi-Arabia.jpg 1288w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



“Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven’t had to think about that yet. For my wife, an exotic adventure is okay. I have to think about my future.”



De Bruyne is currently the highest-paid player in the entire Premier League. The prolific playmaker <a href="https://www.capology.com/club/manchester-city/salaries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> rakes in around $26.5 million annually. This massive salary is fairly comparable to the entire combined roster of recently relegated <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/luton-town-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Luton Town</a>. Only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/mbappe-haaland-and-bellingham-the-top-ten-highest-paid-players-in-europe/view/news/435258" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supposedly</a> earn higher wages in all of Europe than De Bruyne.



<h2>De Bruyne potentially leaving City would be a blow to the club and the league</h2>



Potentially losing De Bruyne to Saudi Arabia would be a massive blow to City. After all, De Bruyne is undoubtedly one of the best players, not just on City, but in the entire Premier League. Despite missing a large portion of the most recent campaign, the midfielder still managed to rack up impressive statistics. He collected 24 combined goals and assists in 26 total matches on the season.



Premier League officials will also want De Bruyne to remain with City as well. The midfielder has been one of the most dominant players in the entire division over the last nine years. He has been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year five times and was awarded the Premier League Player of the Season twice.



De Bruyne’s potential decision to depart City interestingly coincides with rumors that Guardiola will also soon leave the club. Various reports <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/man-city-expecting-pep-guardiola-leave-2025-succession-planning-begin-fa-cup-final-defeat-man-utd/bltf9c5006658a1e165">claim</a> that the 2024/25 campaign will be the legendary manager’s final season in England. The possible exodus comes as City <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/man-city-investigation-financial-rules-premier-league/ueled7gcyfo6b60xgzos0bvx#:~:text=City%20were%20last%20year%20accused,Guardiola%2C%20to%20an%20independent%20commission.">faces</a> over 100 charges for violating spending laws. The team is expected to finally learn their fate regarding the issues later this year.



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Kevin De Bruyne enticed by lucrative Saudi Arabia offer

Manchester City star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has admitted that he is "open" to potentially joining a club in Saudi Arabia this summer.

Kevin De Bruyne enticed by lucrative Saudi Arabia offer - World Soccer Talk

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has claimed that his club does not have an advantage when it comes to making specific loan deals in January. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> teams recently <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/premier-league-clubs-clear-newcastles-saudi-loan-moves-20231122-WST-472240.html">failed to pass</a> a temporary ban on related-party loans in the upcoming transfer window.



The 20 top-flight teams held a meeting on Tuesday to determine whether or not to pass the law. If passed, clubs currently under the same ownership umbrella could not easily loan players back and forth at the beginning of the year. However, the vote ended with just 12 Premier League sides wanting the rule. To officially go into effect, the law needed 14 clubs to be in favor of the law.



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/newcastle-united-tv-schedule/">Newcastle</a> was one of the eight English clubs to vote against the potential ban. Along with the Magpies, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/wolves-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Wolves</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/everton-tv-schedule/">Everton</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/burnley-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/nottingham-forest-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Nottingham Forest</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/sheffield-united-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Sheffield United</a> all also reportedly denied the law.



<h2>Magpies manager hints at taking advantage of unsuccessful ban</h2>



Howe explained on Friday that his team was not solely responsible for the failed ban. “It was a Premier League vote, we’re not the only club involved,” the Newcastle manager <a href="https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/howe-pre-chelsea-h-media-briefing-23-24/">said</a> at a press conference. “I think the majority of clubs own other clubs around the world. It’s not solely on us.”



“Newcastle had a view. We voted our way, as we’re allowed to, and the vote came out on the side it did. We’re very relaxed on it. No advantage in my eyes. We’re the same as every other Premier League club.”



Howe also hinted that his team may take advantage of the failed law by bringing in other players on loan. “We have a squad we really like, but if we can get players fit before January, then the need to recruit will become much less intense for us,” continued the coach. “That will be a decision made towards the window opening rather than now.”



<h2>Newcastle can now bring in top SPL players on loan</h2>



Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns the Magpies. The group also has majority stakes in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a> sides Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Hilal, and Al Nassr. This quartet is the top four teams in the Middle Eastern league. The clubs previously brought in top players this summer such as Neymar, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Ruben Neves.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231124_WST_472389_Newcastle-Neves-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-472415" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Newcastle-Neves-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Newcastle-Neves-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Newcastle-Neves-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Newcastle-Neves.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Ruben Neves was a surprising departure for Saudi Arabia, as he was just entering his prime with Wolves before moving.</figcaption></figure>



Neves, in particular, has been a long-term target for Howe’s team. Newcastle targeted the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/portugal-national-team-tv-schedule/">Portugal</a> international before his move to Al Hilal in the summer. 



Newcastle’s interest in the dynamic midfielder may even be amplified now due to the current injury crisis at the club. Howe has been without up to a dozen senior players due to various issues. This includes significant holes in midfield. 



Although Howe has stated that every other club has the same opportunity, this is not exactly the case. Most of the eight Premier League teams to vote against the ban are currently under multi-club ownership. Reigning European champions Manchester City, as well as Chelsea and Nottingham Forest fall under this category. However, some top-flight clubs do not have partnerships with other top foreign teams.



Sheffield United’s vote to deny the rule is also particularly interesting. Saudi Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Al Saud owns the club. Although the businessman has stakes in other clubs, he was also the former general president of Saudi Arabia’s General Sports Authority and has ties to the Saudi Pro League.



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Newcastle manager Howe denies advantage from failed loan law

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has claimed that his club doesn't have any loan transfer advantage compared to other Premier League clubs.

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Kevin De Bruyne enticed by lucrative Saudi Arabia offer

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Newcastle manager Howe denies advantage from failed loan law