Man City eye £68m-rated Eberechi Eze as Crystal Palace star emerges as possible replacement for Kevin De Bruyne

The reigning Premier League champions are seeing their talismanic Belgian playmaker linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Teams in the Middle East, including Al-Ittihad, are prepared to offer a lucrative contract to 33-year-old De Bruyne.

If he were to move on, then Pep Guardiola will need suitable cover at the Etihad Stadium. According to The Mirror, City have their sights set on Crystal Palace midfielder Eze. He has also attracted interest from Tottenham in the summer window.

Eze has three years left on his deal at Selhurst Park, with those terms said to include a release clause worth £60m plus add-ons. City would be prepared to spend big on the 26-year-old as he would be a long-term addition to a star-studded squad.

Palace, though, will be reluctant sellers after already losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich. Eze – who scored 11 goals and registered four assists last season – is a key part of Oliver Glasner’s plans and is currently recovering from a Euro 2024 campaign with England that included a run to the final.