De Bruyne looking forward to Sanchez

Kevin De Bruyne believes Alexis Sanchez would be a welcome addition to the Manchester City squad.

The Premier League leaders have been heavily linked with a move for the Arsenal forward.

There were suggestions last month that City would prefer to wait until the Chile internationalist comes out of contract in the summer. But an injury to striker Gabriel Jesus has since sparked rumours a deal could be done sooner.

City have not commented on whether this might happen but midfielder De Bruyne at least appears confident Sanchez will become a City player soon.

De Bruyne said: “(He is) a very good player. Obviously we will see what happens in this transfer period.

“If a good player comes to us that is better, if he doesn’t come we do it with the team we have. We are on a good period already – the whole season. Everybody is doing a good job.

“When he comes he will add something to the team.”

De Bruyne was speaking after City were given a stern test by Championship side Bristol City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Pep Guardiola’s side needed a late Sergio Aguero winner to claim a 2-1 advantage ahead of the return clash at Ashton Gate after De Bruyne had cancelled out a Bobby Reid penalty.

“They played good,” said De Bruyne of the Robins. “They came here to play and that was nice. I don’t think they had a lot of chances but they created some problems in the first half. I think we kept on playing and in the end I think we deserved to win it.”