Kevin de Bruyne close to signing lucrative new Manchester City contract

City want it sorted before the World Cup, especially as the 26-year-old’s burgeoning reputation grows amid a brilliant season

De Bruyne is expected to more or less double his current wages and earn around £200,000 (Getty)

Kevin De Bruyne is close to agreeing a lucrative new Manchester City contract, with the club now confident of finalising a deal before Christmas, fortifying his status as a key player in their future.

While a few remaining issues still have to be sorted out, such as details relating to image rights and the exact time scale (although it is expected to be between four and six years), both sides are naturally eager to get it done.

City also want it sorted before the World Cup, especially as the 26-year-old’s burgeoning reputation grows amid a brilliant season. It would strengthen their stance that he is not for sale at any price, regardless of any interest or offer from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

De Bruyne is expected to more or less double his current wages and earn around £200,000, but with a series of bonuses. He is currently on just over £100,000 a year.

City have also taken the first steps to agreeing new contracts with Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane, while there is an expectation that Fernandinho will sign an extension in the summer, when his current deal ends.

De Bruyne has meanwhile scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 24 games this season, evidently moving onto another level, and he spoke on Saturday of his happiness at City.

“I always say in football that a lot of things can happen very quickly, but I’m very happy here and the people at the club know that,” he said in City’s match programme ahead of the 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

“I’ve no feeling to go anywhere else and enjoy being part of the project here and playing the kind of football we are playing. The team is going in the right direction and that’s also important. I made the right decision coming to City and my family feels the same so everything is good.”

Kevin de Bruyne is leading the field for the player of the year award (Getty)

He also reflected on how a proper summer break has helped, and that City had felt a “good flow” from pre-season.

“It makes a difference because the last four or five years I don’t ever really remember having a good break before the new season began. This year, I had four weeks in the summer – which is massive for me – and it really helps you come back reenergised.

“You don’t get a lot of downtime as a footballer and I’ve only been having two or two and a half weeks in summer to rest before this year, so it was good. The seasons are long, and you play so many games – this season we started knowing it would begin in July and end the next July with no rest in-between.”