“Between the club, Kevin and his agent” – Pep Guardiola makes coy admission on Kevin De Bruyne future after MLS chief talks | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has admitted ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth that he remains unsure about Kevin De Bruyne’s Manchester City future.

De Bruyne turns 34 this summer and his current City deal is set to expire on 30 June, fuelling speculation on the Belgium international’s future ahead of the summer transfer window.

Amidst a stop-start campaign for Manchester City, De Bruyne has struggled for consistency both in terms of form and fitness – which has derailed the playmaker’s prospects of committing to a new deal at the Etihad Stadium.

City are believed to be open to offering De Bruyne a new deal on reduced wages but much of that will depend on whether the midfielder – who has attracted interest from the Major League Soccer and Saudi Pro League – can finish the season on a high.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth, Guardiola was pressed for his two cents on De Bruyne’s future in Manchester.

“It’s between the club and Kevin (De Bruyne) and his agent,” Guardiola said on Friday afternoon. “It’s a question for the club and Kevin. Listen, you have to understand, in the position that we are, I am concerned about the team and what is going to happen to finish the season as best as possible.

“The individual situations, every manager, staff and backroom staff, players – not even one second! We have to, everybody, think about what is the best for the club, for the team, to achieve the targets that are still ahead of us with the FA Cup Premier League and (Club) World Cup.”

It remains to be seen what the coming months hold for De Bruyne after reported talks between his agent and San Diego FC of the Major League Soccer.

There remains a belief in some quarters that the Belgian’s desire to represent his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup could see him sign a 12-month renewal at the Etihad Stadium.

De Bruyne has represented the best of Guardiola’s trophy-laden tenure in the north-west and he remains the only current Manchester City first-team player – bar Phil Foden, who was an academy player at the time – to have been at the club before Guardiola was appointed manager in the summer of 2016.