Man City want Kevin de Bruyne replacement as injury return date given

Manchester City will have to cope without Kevin de Bruyne for up to four months with Pep Guardiola confirming talks will take place in the coming days on whether a replacement for the midfielder will be signed before the transfer window closes. De Bruyne had been struggling with a hamstring issue for several months leading up to the Premier League opener last week.

And the Belgium international lasted just 23 minutes before pulling up with the same issue stopping him from being able to continue. De Bruyne trudged off the pitch with his head in his hands with Guardiola bringing on summer signing Mateo Kovacic to replace the injured star.

Guardiola was hopeful after the match that it was nothing too serious for De Bruyne. But, speaking ahead of the European Super Cup against Sevilla, the City boss has confirmed De Bruyne won’t be back in action for at least three months.

A decision is still to be made on whether the 32-year-old undergoes surgery with Guardiola confirming a decision will be made soon.

He added: “Will be a few months out. We will decide in the next days. Surgery is surgery, three or four months out.” City have new signing Kovacic capable of filling in for De Bruyne while Kalvin Phillips may also fancy his chances of finding more minutes in the captain’s absence.

But Guardiola has admitted that talks will take place with the City hierarchy on whether any opportunities for new midfield signings can be done in the final two weeks of the transfer window. He said: “We will see. We’ll talk with Txiki [Begiristain] and the chances and possibilities.”

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City had already earmarked West Ham star Lucas Paqueta as a potential target before De Bruyne’s injury blow. Talks between the two clubs are reportedly ongoing with City already having a £75million bid knocked back by the Hammers.

City are expected to return with an improved offer with Paqueta said to be keen on a move to the Etihad. And David Moyes accepts that West Ham will sell up if City end up meeting their valuation.

He said: “There’s a price on everybody’s head. We have had news on Lucas, but not anything to make our heads wobble. Lucas Paqueta is an incredibly talented player. We played him a bit deeper alongside Tomas [Soucek].”

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