Kevin De Bruyne keen to sign Manchester City contract extension

Kevin De Bruyne has indicated he would be delighted to extend his contract at Manchester City as he revels in his emergence as a senior player under Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne has started the season in scintillating fashion, prompting Guardiola to describe him as one of the best players he has worked with in his career.

That was followed swiftly by briefings from the City hierarchy that they wished to extend the Belgium international’s contract, even though he still has four-years left to run on his current deal.

City are no doubt aware that when a manager with Guardiola’s global profile and influence gives out such powerful praise to one of his players, it will increase the interest in De Bruyne from Europe’s other powerful clubs.

A contract extension is not urgent, but it makes sense, if only to discourage the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, from trying to lure the 26-year-old away next summer.

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Not that De Bruyne seems at all interested in leaving, hinting he would like to be considered as a future captain after wearing the armband against Feyenoord for the first time earlier this month.

“That shows that I'm on the right track and I’m one of the leaders of the team,” said De Bruyne. “I know I'm one of the five on the players council (along with Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, David Silva and Sergio Aguero).

“For me, it was also nice to be seen as one of the more adult in the group. That's fun. That does not often happen. I'm the youngest of the five. We shall see (about the captaincy).

“I am very happy at City. Everything is going well for me. I have no reason to go anywhere else. The project City have is superb, so it's best for me.”

Asked whether talks to extend his contract had begun, De Bruyne was relaxed and indicated it was in the hands of his agent.

“There has not really been a conversation,” he explained. “We both waited until the transfer window was over. They have spoken with [agent] Patrick (de Koster) in the summer: and said give us time to make the transfers and we speak after the summer.

“That will soon happen, I think. I'm not thinking it has to happen fast. I have a four-year contract. Whether I'm four, five or six years under contract, that does not change much, but it’s nice the club have so much confidence in me.”