Strengths and Weaknesses of Manchester City Transfer Target Kevin De Bruyne

Given the quality of player Manchester City are chasing this summer, it’s hardly surprising landing their targets has been somewhat more difficult than in previous times.

Raheem Sterling has arrived, a player seen as crucial to City’s future and one who facilitates a potential switch to 4-3-3. Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, has been trying out the formation during the club’s pre-season tour of Australia, and it seems likely to enter his side’s armoury during the coming campaign.

Fabian Delph, too, has joined Pellegrini’s squad. At £8 million, he represents a snip and will augment City’s midfield options nicely, adding the kind of drive and energy that was lacking last season.

More arrivals are expected. Kevin De Bruyne, Wolfsburg’s former Chelsea midfielder, has been heavily linked and could put to pen to paper before City’s Premier League curtain-raiser against West Bromwich Albion on August 10, according to Mark Ogden writing in the Telegraph.

He could cost the club close to £50 million and may earn a basic salary of around £120,000 per week. Here, we run the rule over the 24-year-old Belgian and see what he could bring to City. 

Strength: Ability to Create Chances

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De Bruyne's passing is superb, particularly his ability to play through balls that provide chances for others in the final third. 

He assisted 20 goals in the Bundesliga in 2014/15. It's a remarkable tally that underlines his unselfishness and his credentials as one of the best young creative midfielders around.

He seems to thrive on laying on chances for others, and the prospect of him supplying Sergio Aguero with goalscoring opportunities is a tantalising one for the City fans. 

Weakness: Defensive Play

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His creativity is clear, but there sometimes appears to be a lack of desire to contribute to the defensive side of the game. 

No player at City is allowed to drift. Hard work is vital, particularly if City switch to 4-3-3 this season. It's an open, attacking system that is easily picked apart if every player is not diligent in their defensive duties. 

Pellegrini will be demanding more from De Bruyne than has been expected of him in Germany, and he must prove he can step up to the challenge. 

Strength: Versatility

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De Bruyne is a playmaker capable of occupying a central role, but he can also play wide, drifting inside off either flank. 

His passing is much more dangerous in a No. 10 position, but his crossing is also excellent, meaning he can cause damage from wide areas, too. 

Given City look likely to switch to a 4-3-3 formation, with 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 options they can revert to, De Bruyne's ability to play in a number of attacking roles is particularly appealing. 

Weakness: Question Marks over His Attitude?

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who sold De Bruyne to Wolfsburg 18 months ago for £18 million, has revealed it was the Belgian youngster's demands of a first-team place that forced him to sell the midfielder.

According to Steve Brenner writing in the Guardian, Mourinho said this week: 

"

He told me it was not in his personality to be competing for a position in the team. He needed a team where he knows he can play every game. He needs to know that he is important.

He did not want a team where he thinks am I playing or not? He needs that trust, he needs that quality. He needs that security. So I was not happy when he left. So yes it’s not fair.

He didn’t tell me he couldn’t handle the pressure. He told me he wanted to play every weekend. I told him this is Chelsea, you are very young, you have Eden Hazard, you have Mata, you have Willian, you have Schürrle, and I cannot promise you that.

And the first game of the season against Hull City he played. For the second game against Manchester United, he played. The third game of the season was the Super Cup in Prague, I decided not to play him. For the fourth match, in the Premier League, he was on the bench. And he was not happy. He told me he was not happy.

"

Was this a case of a player displaying arrogance or an unwillingness to fight for a place in a top team with options in every position? Or was it simply a way of engineering a move to a side he could play regularly in at a crucial stage in his development? 

One thing is for sure: It's all worked out well for De Bruyne, who has enhanced his reputation and developed into a top-class young midfielder since joining Wolfsburg. 

Strength: Touch and Technique

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De Bruyne is a naturally gifted footballer with superb touch and technique that marks him out as one of the best young players in Europe. 

Even as a 21-year-old on loan at Werder Bremen, before he rose to prominence at Wolfsburg, he showed flashes of brilliance. His goal against Stuttgart in February 2012 was world class, flicking the ball over centre-back Georg Niedermeier, before racing into the box and producing a first-time lob over Sven Ulreich. 

He is two-footed, has excellent vision, is a good set-piece taker and has the confidence in possession needed to be a creative force. 

Whereas in his early years he failed to produce on a regular basis, he is now much more consistent. He has plenty of room for improvement, but his quality is clear. 

Weakness: Rarely Wins Headed Duels

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No player has a complete repertoire of skills to draw upon, and De Bruyne is certainly lacking when it comes to winning headed duels. 

At just 5'11", he is smaller than most defenders he goes up against, and he struggles to challenge them aerially. 

He's a player much more concerned with technical skill and creating with his feet, and he therefore lacks the kind of physical presence in the air needed to cause problems for defenders. 

Strength: He Scores Goals

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De Bruyne's vital statistics last season were seriously impressive. As well as his 20 league assists—a Bundesliga record—he also bagged 10 goals. 

The ability to score regularly from midfield is highly valuable. Pellegrini prides himself on playing an attacking style of football, with goals his primary concern. Players who can contribute from deep areas and further remove the goalscoring burden from Sergio Aguero would help return City to their attacking best. 

He may find it much more difficult to score regularly in the Premier League, but the timing of his runs and his confidence to try something special should see him contribute goals.