Manchester City closing in on Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne
Thursday 20 August 2015 20:24, UK
Manchester City are close to a deal for Kevin De Bruyne, according to Sky sources, which would take their summer spending towards the £150m mark.
Wolfsburg value the former Chelsea midfielder at more than £50m and it is understood they are reluctant to move from that asking price.
City are determined to complete the deal as quickly as possible, having already finalised Nicolas Otamendi's move from Valencia.
The fee for Otamendi is £33m which, when combined with the £49m the club paid Liverpool for Raheem Sterling, represents a major investment in the City squad which would be increased further by the purchase of De Bruyne.
City have also splashed out on Fabian Delph, Patrick Roberts and Enes Unal this summer.
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Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking believes the prolonged transfer for De Bruyne is having a negative effect on the player, who has played in all three of the German club's games so far this season.
"Kevin is a bit tired at the moment because there is so much happening around him," Hecking told Bild.
"He finds himself in a situation that is on his mind all the time, just like it has been over the past few weeks. We are just trying to get him in the best shape possible."
Wolfsburg's sporting director Klaus Allofs insists the mood in the club is one of focus.
"Today and in the coming days I will not comment on that, we would actually like to ignore it all for now," he said.
"All our planning assume that Kevin is in the squad, he is fit and that he can play. We think he can play. Distractions are normal for such a player and he has to handle it."