Man City bosses see summer transfer window handicap in Juventus defeat

Kevin De Bruyne has faced some questions over the last few years about how long he can stay at the top of the game.

The last time the Belgian renewed his contract at Manchester City, in 2021, he was at the peak of his powers and City did not have a replacement for him. It was a case of paying him what he wanted because he was worth every penny and more.

Injuries have limited De Bruyne's powers in the last two seasons, and while his goals and assists record is still absurdly good his influence has slipped slightly. As he approaches the end of this contract, there are arguably players who could replace the 33-year-old.

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Except, as this match made clear, De Bruyne remains City's best creative force by a country mile. The club hierarchy could make a bold decision to move on from De Bruyne in summer if they feel they have identified the right man, but there are so many bigger problems in the squad - including the fact that nobody else looks like creating a goal - it would surely make little difference whoever came in.

Jack Grealish played some pretty passes, Bernardo Silva ran about and Jeremy Doku slalomed his way past defenders in Turin yet not one of City's attackers could say they provided more of a threat on the ball than De Bruyne did. Nobody looks like scoring when Erling Haaland doesn't and against Juventus nobody looked like creating.

Replacing De Bruyne in this current City squad would feel like choosing a new front door while your house burnt down. It may be the right decision to keep him regardless, but the club have lost any negotiating power they would have had were the team to have been showing they could have success alongside or even without him.

That gives City a problem whatever their decision, since anyone who would be coming in can claim a greater importance to the team the longer the rest of the Blues squad contribute so little in attack. In a summer where major changes are expected with Guardiola looking to lead a rebuild, it is an expensive headache that City do not need with all their other issues.