How Much Is Ex-Chelsea Misfit Kevin De Bruyne Worth in Current Transfer Market?
Chelsea have been rather shrewd in their transfer dealings since the second coming of Jose Mourinho.
Creating a squad in his own image, the Portuguese has spent £61.5 million (net) of Roman Abramovich's fortune. Considering the Blues spent £50 million on Fernando Torres in January 2011, £11.5 million more for a nearly complete renovation exemplifies terrific business.
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The west Londoners have used auxiliary players (e.g. David Luiz and Juan Mata) to keep costs down, but their crowning achievement could be the loan policy. Selling the likes of Romelu Lukaku for tidy profits, Chelsea have improved their squad in an erudite manner.
Sales, however, hold the capacity to sting—much like purchases.
Bought for £7 million from Genk in January 2012, Kevin De Bruyne was earmarked as a potential Blues superstar when purchased under Andre Villas-Boas. The 21-year-old's talent was apparent, but needing further seasoning, Chelsea loaned him back to Genk for the rest of 2011/12; De Bruyne was then loaned to Werden Bremen for the entire 2012/13 campaign.
Enjoying success at Bremen (10 goals and nine assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances), the Belgian international was given an opportunity with his parent club in 2013/14. De Bruyne started two of Chelsea's first three matches, but his style and energy levels were not compatible with Mourinho's bullish demands.
Those deployed on the right side of Chelsea's attacking-midfield trident are required to track back; De Bruyne's game is naturally situated in attack—making the Blues boss look elsewhere.
Purchasing Willian on 28 August 2013 for £32 million, Mourinho found another willing runner to deploy on the right flank—alongside Ramires—rendering De Bruyne surplus to requirements. Appearing just nine times in all competitions during his Chelsea career, VfL Wolfsburg purchased the highly regarded Belgian for £18 million in January 2014.
Able to mark an £11 million profit, many Chelsea supporters found the sale positive. Square pegs being sold for profits are normally worthy of celebration, but a player not meshing at one club is not a condemnation of his talent—merely an evaluation on the fit.
De Bruyne has proven since arriving at the Volkswagen Arena his world-beating quality.
2014/15 has been tremendous for the now-23-year-old midfielder. Given a central, creative role with little responsibility in terms of defending, De Bruyne has taken the Bundesliga by storm. Nine goals and 16 assists in the German first division have no doubt inflated his transfer value by millions.
Linked with Chelsea (which feels concocted more for headlines than footballing reasons) and the usual suspects of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal—as reported by the Daily Star's Jack Watts—De Bruyne's value has certainly risen above £18 million.
Registering two abundant years in the past three Bundesliga seasons (were there no reckless bidding war) the Wolfsburg attacker should be worth £30-35 million—on current form—to a Premier League side.
The issues Mourinho had still exist; not necessarily interested in the "dirty side" of football, teams would have to decide whether De Bruyne fits into their scheme.
Manchester United and Arsenal are not too concerned with a defensive minded "No. 10," but employing Mata and Mesut Ozil, respectively, should they pay upwards of £35 million for a player model they already possess? In a word: No.
Manchester City, though, have question marks heading into the summer window.
An ageing squad (with no under-23 talent to boast), the Citizens require a fresh breath of air.
De Bruyne serves as an interesting target, but persuading Wolfsburg to sell would not come cheaply, neither would be convincing the player—in a team full of veterans—he will be given immediate freedom.
Enjoying life in Germany, there is no reason for the Belgian to uproot himself so quickly. Playing for four different teams since 2012, De Bruyne needs stability; Wolfsburg's project with Andre Schurrle, Luiz Gustavo, Bas Dost and Ricardo Rodriguez has massive potential with a few additional pieces, so jumping ship presently seems illogical.
That being said: If the German club receive an offer exceedingly above £18 million—and De Bruyne is simultaneously promised the keys to one's proverbial kingdom—the situation must be explored further.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
