Bigger is better for new boy Jeff
City pledge to rebuild side around star playmaker
KEVIN DE BRUYNE has been hailed as Manchester City’s future by Sheikh Mansour’s right-hand man.
The City midfielder has blossomed into one of the world’s best players and beat all of Liverpool’s title winners to be crowned the Premier League Player of the Season.
He equalled Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of 20 assists in one campaign and finished with 22 in all competitions, plus 16 goals.
De Bruyne, 29, has become one of the leaders of the dressing room for Pep Guardiola and is ready to step into the void left by departed captain David Silva. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was delighted by De Bruyne’s Premier League award and says the Belgium star represents the club’s future.
“I was very pleased,” he said. “Very pleased because it is so well deserved. It was a combination of being pleased but also a bit relieved.
“I was worried because we have seen it before with City players, them being overlooked for this very important award, and I was worried that Kevin would be overlooked this year, because in my view it was unquestionable.
“My vote was clear, obviously it is subjective because of who he plays for, but Kevin was the best player in the league this year.
“He’s earned it, he’s shown it and I’m glad he got this appreciation and respect from the football world.
“He has become an important leader for this group. He is the future of Manchester City and all I can say is it is well deserved and well earned.”
This summer is one of transition for City, with Silva and Leroy Sane leaving coupled with the rebuild that is required after the disappointment of last season.
Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres have arrived for a combined £62m as City try to close the gap on champions Liverpool and Khaldoon says they will sign more players.
He said: “We don’t take a oneyear view. We take a three, five, 10-year view. When we look at what changes we have to make for this squad, we’ll be sensible and pragmatic about it, but we will do what it takes.
“I think you’ve seen when it comes to the two acquisitions we have made, Ake and Ferran Torres, we moved quickly.
“There are other players we will be bringing in and we will stick to the plan.”
Khaldoon claims City target younger players, aged between 20 and 25, but added they would make an exception for an older one if Guardiola wanted to.
This could be seen as a nod in the direction of Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, although not at Napoli’s £80m asking price.
“If you look at the acquisitions we have made, there’s a consistency in terms of age and quality,” said Khaldoon.
“So we will continue down that road, but sometimes opportunities come up that fit with what the manager wants that might be out of that box.
“If that’s the case, pragmatic enough to
that move.”
■ (left) we’re make
JEFF HENDRICK is ready to become Mr Big after signing a four-year deal at Newcastle.
The midfielder, 28, has swapped life at Burnley for a club always in the spotlight. And he reckons life will never be the same.
“It’s a massive club and one of the best stadiums to play in, so I just want to get playing there,” said Hendrick (inset), who could make his debut against Crewe tonight. “It’s going to be different for me, a bigger stadium, the crowd, how big the club is.
“So I’ve got to keep pushing myself.” Hendrick’s arrival on a free completes a good few days for Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, who persuaded Matty Longstaff to sign a new contract. But Bruce may yet have to part with wantaway midfielder Isaac Hayden.