Manchester City are now preparing an offer for an “excellent creator”, as Pep Guardiola believes the midfielder would be a perfect fit in his system, according to a report.
Man City eyeing Kevin De Bruyne replacement
Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end this summer, and there is now a feeling he could end up remaining in the Premier League, as Aston Villa are ready to back Unai Emery with a move for the Belgian.
As such, Guardiola will be tasked with bringing in a replacement for De Bruyne at the end of the campaign, and a number of top-level attacking midfielders have been identified as potential targets, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue recently emerging as an option.
Doue will not come cheap, with the Blues preparing a £102m offer for the Frenchman, and he is not the only expensive signing they are considering, as Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is also of interest, and the £129m German would be keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.
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ByDominic LundApr 29, 2025
Man City have set their sights on some renowned attacking midfielders from across Europe, but there is also an indication they may take a gamble on an up-and-coming talent, with a report from Spain revealing they are preparing a super offer for River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono.
Guardiola believes Mastantuono would be a perfect fit for his system, which means City chiefs are now seriously considering making a big offer for the 17-year-old, who has caught the eye with his performances for River Plate this season.
A number of other major clubs have set their sights on the Argentine, including Manchester United, but he is protected by a €45m (£38m) release clause and isn’t expected to leave his current club until 2026 at the earliest.
"Excellent" Mastantuono could be De Bruyne heir
De Bruyne has a remarkable assist record during his time with City, setting up 177 goals in 417 games, so it will be a very difficult task to replace the 33-year-old, but there are signs the River Plate youngster could be the ideal heir.
Football scout Ben Mattinson believes the teenager is an impressive playmaker, while also taking the time to praise his ability from free-kicks.
Most recently, the starlet scored a remarkable free-kick for River Plate in his side’s 2-1 victory against bitter rivals Boca Juniors.
At 17-years-old, it would be a tall order for Mastantuono to replace De Bruyne any time soon, but there is every indication that he could be a future star.