Ornstein CONFIRMS Man City's top targets to replace De Bruyne

Tom Weber

Updated: 8 Apr 2025 09:20 CDT
3 min read

Kevin De Bruyne, Man City, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Manchester City are interested in Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for Kevin de Bruyne, according to David Ornstein.

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The Cityzens are gearing up for another massive transfer window. Given their dire season, Man City splashed the cash in January to bolster their side and put it on a solid foundation for the future, bringing in several young players.

STATS

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

Kevin De Bruyne

M, AM (C)

Man City

32

Games
4

Goals
7

Assists

They are expected to be very busy this summer, too, with Pep Guardiola's rebuild far from complete. New sporting director Hugo Viana, who started in his new role this week, will face an eminently important first window in charge.

Last week, club legend Kevin de Bruyne announced that he would leave this summer, with his contract due to expire. He was not offered an extension by Man City, who are keen to bring down the age of their squad.

The 33-year-old's next destination is not yet clear, although he could be on his way to Major League Soccer as Lionel Messi's Inter Miami hold his Discovery Rights, essentially giving them an option of first refusal on the Belgian superstar.

Man City want Wirtz and Gibbs-White

As for potential replacements, David Ornstein of The Athletic has now provided some clues. According to the journalist, Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Florian Wirtz are two names under consideration.

Neither is a new target for the Cityzens, with Guardiola's adoration for Wirtz, in particular, well documented. Whether the German will move remains to be seen, however. Reports in his home country suggest that his family is urging him to stay put for another season.

Compared

Florian Wirtz

AM (C)

Bayer 04

Florian Wirtz

AM (C)

Bayer 04

VS

Morgan Gibbs-White

M, AM (C)

Nottingham

Morgan Gibbs-White

M, AM (C)

Nottingham

2024/2025

Season Statistics

2024/2025

39	Appearances	30
13	Assists	9
15	Goals	5

As for Gibbs-White, he has been mightily impressive for Forest since joining in 2022. This season, the 25-year-old has contributed with five goals and nine assists in 30 outings as the Reds enjoy a fairytale campaign.

Ornstein reports that City have yet to make a final decision on how they will replace De Bruyne and he acknowledges that they could also look for an in-house solution.

Phil Foden is cited as a player capable of filling De Bruyne's role, which would allow City to strengthen in other areas. More concrete updates on the situation are expected in the near future as Viana settles into his new role.