According to a recent report from The Athletic, MLS club Chicago Fire has emerged as the new frontrunner to sign Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne this summer. De Bruyne`s contract with the English champions is set to expire, making him a highly sought-after free agent.
The Chicago Fire, under the guidance of head coach and general manager Gregg Berhalter, have shown significant improvement and are reportedly looking to make a major signing. The club was previously linked with Neymar during the offseason and appears keen to add a high-profile player like De Bruyne to their roster.
De Bruyne himself announced in April that the current season would likely be his last at Manchester City, where he has been a pivotal player in their numerous successes. His availability has naturally attracted global interest. While he was initially linked to San Diego FC, his MLS discovery rights were subsequently acquired by Inter Miami. However, adding De Bruyne to Miami`s squad presents a challenge due to the team already having three designated players.
This situation has reportedly given the Chicago Fire priority in negotiating with the Belgian midfielder. Other MLS clubs, including D.C. United and New York City FC, have also been mentioned as potential suitors, although D.C. United`s focus might currently be elsewhere, possibly on signing Paul Pogba.
It`s important to note that having exclusive discovery rights provides the Fire with a window for negotiation but does not guarantee a move to MLS. De Bruyne is also reported to be drawing interest from teams in Saudi Arabia, and a return to another Premier League club remains a possibility.
Despite being 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, the Chicago Fire are close to a playoff spot, trailing by only two points. The team`s star striker, Hugo Cuypers, is performing well, leading the MLS Golden Boot race with seven goals in ten appearances. Under Berhalter, the Fire is seen as a team on the rise, and securing a player of De Bruyne`s caliber could significantly boost their aspirations for MLS Cup contention.
Adrian Whitmore