Manchester City attacker Kevin De Bruyne has insisted that there is a possibility that he could remain in the Premier League after the expiration of his contract.
The Belgian playmaker was part of the City squad that were beaten 1-0 in the FA Cup final by Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, with the 33-year-old missing out on the chance to win silverware in his last season at the Etihad.
De Bruyne's contract is set to expire in the summer and the club announced that they will not renew his deal, bringing to an end his time in Manchester after 10 seasons.
Despite his status as a City legend, the attacker confirmed after the FA Cup final that he would not be opposed to joining another Premier League side, telling Sky Sports: "I'm speaking to clubs about my future, yes. I want to play good football, whatever the decision.
"Staying in England? It depends who comes. I have a family, kids, I have to take care of a decision that suits everybody. The decision is complex."
De Bruyne's comments will concern City fans given he may have indicated a willingness to join a direct rival, something that would have previously been unthinkable considering his years of service for the club.
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Who could De Bruyne join?
One of the teams linked to De Bruyne's signature has been Liverpool, with winger Mohamed Salah claiming that the Reds "have a space for him" in the squad.
Given the champions are reportedly on the lookout for offensive reinforcements - Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is said to be of interest - then it is perhaps not surprising that the City attacking midfielder would be on the club's radar.
It should also be noted that Liverpool will lose Trent Alexander-Arnold for free in the summer, and since De Bruyne is arguably the only player in the Premier League as creative as the right-back, then bringing the Belgian to Anfield could be sensible.
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Is De Bruyne still good enough for the top level?
Despite the fact that he has started just 18 Premier League games this term, De Bruyne has proven that he is still capable of impacting play in the final third.
Of every player in the top flight, the 33-year-old has produced the second most expected assists per 90 (0.36), only trailing Arsenal's Bukayo Saka.
While the Belgian's mobility is somewhat more limited after serious muscle injuries in the past years, there is no doubting his quality in possession, and he would still boost most squad's in world football.
Lewis Nolan
