(Football news) Towards the end of the previous summer, Manchester City reportedly showed interest in the 26-year-old as they looked into the transfer market to find players to replace Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan. On the last day of the transfer window, Manchester City reportedly failed with a £60 million bid for Eze, but they instead lavished the cash on Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes.

In the 2023–24 season, Eze went on to establish himself as a star player for Crystal Palace, making 31 appearances in all competitions and tallying 11 goals and six assists. The adaptable midfielder, who can play on either flank or in the center, was called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 as a reward for his outstanding club play.

Manchester City weighing up move for long-term target Eze?

Eze featured three times as a substitute for the Three Lions, who lost in the final to Spain, and after a post-Euro 2024 break, he will soon shift his focus back to club duty, with Palace heading to the United States for their pre-season tour.

Palace’s No.10 was strongly linked with a possible exit from Selhurst Park prior to his involvement at Euro 2024, and since the tournament has finished, he continues to be tipped with a big-money transfer elsewhere.

The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been credited with an interest in the midfielder this summer, as have Premier League champion Man City.

Manchester City have a ‘long-standing admiration’ for Eze and are particularly impressed by his low maintenance temperament and his ability to play in a variety of different positions.

The report adds that Manchester City are considering a move for Eze, who has three years left on his Palace contract that includes a £60m release plus add-ons, increasing his value to around £68m.

Eze in, De Bruyne out at Manchester City?

Man City’s interest in Eze comes at a time when star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium having now entered the final year of his contract.

The 33-year-old is the longest-serving player with Guardiola’s current squad having spent the last nine seasons at the club recording 102 goals and 170 assists in 382 games as well as winning a total of 16 trophies.

There have recently been conflicting reports about De Bruyne and a potential move to Saudi Arabia, with it now understood that the Belgium international is yet to agree terms to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.

Nevertheless, Al Ittihad are thought to be pushing to complete the statement signing of the playmaker, who has previously admitted that he may find it difficult to turn down a big-money contract offer from the Middle East having now entered the latter stages of his career.

De Bruyne has not been included in Manchester City’s initial pre-season squad ahead of their tour of the United States, but he is expected to link up with Guardiola’s side in due course.
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