Kevin de Bruyne is still one of the best footballers in the world and unlikely to leave Manchester City this summer despite rumors linking him to Saudi Arabia, but his injury issues in 2023 were a reminder that time is fleeting.
At 32 years of age, de Bruyne may be headed for his final season at the Etihad in 2024/25, so Manchester City must consider his long-term replacement in either the summer 2024 or 2025 transfer markets.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is a fiery playmaker who was heavily linked to Manchester City, but since a potential ban is putting his very Premier League career in doubt, the Citizens have to look for alternatives.
Here are three elite playmaking alternatives for the reigning Premier League champions, who have all the patience in the world when it comes to addressing the position, especially since 2022 signing Julian Alvarez is no slouch himself.
Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons was one of the best players of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season, even if he was overshadowed by the young stars of Bayer Leverkusen and new Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane.
Simons played in a variety of positions for Leipzig but was at his best as a playmaker, shining brightly in his first season in a top-five European league.
While there are bigger names being linked to Manchester City in midfield, Simons proved last season that he is as good as those players by scoring 8 goals with 11 assists while even contributing positively to Leipzig’s defensive efforts.
An ideal modern playmaker, Simons looks like he could be a great fit as a footballer and person for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.
Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz would be the most exciting possible transfer for Manchester City, but it seems like the Bayer Leverkusen standout is actually leaning towards Real Madrid.
The German international is also being recruited heavily by Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with a summer 2025 transfer after Leverkusen’s Champions League campaign being more likely.
With Xabi Alonso expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager in 2025/26, the Merengues may have an edge over the Citizens when it comes to signing Wirtz, just as they did with Jude Bellingham.
But Manchester City can offer Wirtz a better path to playing time as Kevin de Bruyne’s potential replacement. Wirtz was the standout of a stellar Leverkusen side and now has several seasons of productive, elite-level Bundesliga player under his belt.
Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich
If Florian Wirtz is the dreamiest playmaker option for Manchester City, then Jamal Musiala is a close second. Like Wirtz, Musiala is a Bundesliga phenom with several years of impressive play under his belt.
Proven under the pressure of Bayern, Musiala fired Die Roten to the Bundesliga title in 2022/23 with a great individual effort on the last day of the season.
Time and time again, Musiala has come up with the goods for Bayern Munich, and he is one of the best creative playmakers and dribblers in world football with a keen eye for goal.
Manchester City would have an even more vaunted attack with Musiala slipping in behind Erling Haaland and combining with his former Bundesliga rival.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.