Where will Kevin De Bruyne play next season? The question is more relevant than ever, as his contract with Manchester City expires on June 30 and will not be renewed. At 33 years old, the Belgian international has made it clear that he wants to continue his career and still feels capable of performing at the highest level.

As of Thursday, May 8, a new contender may have entered the race. According to the Italian press, particularly La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli has made the playmaker one of its priorities for the upcoming summer transfer window. The Italian sports daily claims that the idea of signing him came directly from Aurelio De Laurentiis. The Napoli president knows he must strengthen the squad available to Antonio Conte to cope with a busier calendar next season, as the team will be competing in the Champions League. Additionally, the president wants to attract top-tier players in order to convince his coach to continue his project at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.

Lukaku, a key player in the deal?

Kevin De Bruyne meets all the criteria and has the major advantage of being available on a free transfer, with no fee required. To achieve his goal — beyond the sporting project he will surely highlight — Aurelio De Laurentiis is also counting on another strong card: Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker has a great relationship with De Bruyne. The two players belong to the same generation and have played together for the national team since their debuts in 2010. Lukaku’s role will be to convince his friend to join him in southern Italy, despite the lower salary on offer. Napoli simply cannot afford to pay him the same wages he currently earns in England, which RTL estimates at €24 million per year.

Napoli will have to be highly convincing to win Kevin De Bruyne’s favor. The Belgian is not short of suitors. Besides Napoli, he is also being targeted by Aston Villa, Chicago Fire in MLS, Saudi Arabian clubs, and has even reportedly received an offer from Liverpool. All of them are strong contenders, and Napoli will have to present strong arguments to secure the deal.