Report: Fire in talks with Man City’s De Bruyne

CHICAGO, IL–According to a report by Jeff Carlisle at ESPN, Chicago Fire FC are in talks with Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a possible move to Major League Soccer. Last month, DeBruyne announced his intention to depart City after ten seasons with the club.

Inter Miami currently hold discovery rights, a mechanism to prevent MLS clubs from engaging on bidding wars, on De Bruyne, 33, but do not have any open designated player spots unlike the Fire. While New York City FC and DC United are also reported to express interest, the Fire are reported to have the inside track due to their open DP spot and the willingness of owner Joe Mansueto to spend money.

“Whatever project is available, I’m willing to listen,” De Bruyne said after last week’s win against Crystal Palace. “I love football. I love to play football and if a nice project comes, and my family is good with that, then we are able to make a decision.”

Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter recently mentioned wanting a “creative attacking player” to compliment Hugo Cuypers and Jonathan Bamba.

“There’s a salary cap, there’s a limited amount of designated players. So I think the most sense is to bring in an attacking player,” said Berhalter. “Someone that can change the game consistently from an attacking end and can work with the offensive weapons we already have to bring out more in them and help them continue and overall help the team both on and off the field.”

De Bruyne has scored 71 goals in 281 appearances for Manchester City winning a European Cup, six Premier League titles, and two FA Cups with a chance to add a third later this month. With Belgium, he has scored 30 goals in 109 caps.

COMMENT: Kevin De Bruyne would be the biggest signing in MLS since Lionel Messi were he to join. It would certainly raise the Fire’s profile and would hopefully lead to better results that when Xherdan Shaqiri was with the Fire (and is now the leading scorer in the Swiss Super League with Basel). That said, a more pressing need may be at center back given the long term injury to Carlos Teran and shipping ten goals in the last two matches. While until recently the Fire have been playing better, the club still looks a player or two away from genuinely contending in MLS. Adding De Bruyne (and a center back) would certainly help in that direction.