David Ornstein: Manchester City Consider Midfield Options After De Bruyne Exit | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Search for De Bruyne’s Heir: Gibbs-White and Wirtz on the Radar

City’s Transition Era Begins

The curtain is falling on one of the Premier League’s greatest midfield chapters. Kevin De Bruyne’s departure from Manchester City at the end of the season leaves not just a gap in quality, but in identity. After a decade of vision, precision and clutch performances, replacing De Bruyne isn’t just a footballing decision — it’s a philosophical one.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, City are exploring several routes to fill that void. “Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz are among the options Manchester City will consider to replace captain Kevin De Bruyne this summer.” It’s a move that signals both ambition and flexibility — the club is open to reshaping its midfield rather than replicating what De Bruyne brought word-for-word.

Talent with Distinction: Gibbs-White and Wirtz

Morgan Gibbs-White has quietly carved out a reputation as one of the league’s most complete attacking midfielders. With five goals and nine assists in 27 Premier League games this term, the 25-year-old is becoming central to Nottingham Forest’s unlikely push for Champions League qualification. As Ornstein noted, “he is not only the biggest creative influence in the side, but also a leader and driving force.”

His England call-up last autumn — Forest’s first since Stuart Pearce — was more than symbolic. It was proof of a player finally fulfilling his potential. Whether operating behind the striker or deeper in midfield, Gibbs-White’s dynamism, intelligence, and leadership have marked him out as ready for a bigger stage.

In contrast, Florian Wirtz already dances under the European spotlight. His 2023-24 campaign at Leverkusen was nothing short of spectacular. “He won Bundesliga player of the season as Leverkusen went undefeated domestically, lifting their first league title and the DFB-Pokal.” With 56 goals and 63 assists in 191 appearances at just 21 years old, Wirtz’s numbers are as dazzling as his style.

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Bayer Leverkusen reportedly value him at €150 million, and though Bayern Munich are also circling, City’s pull — both sporting and financial — cannot be underestimated.

Strategic Delay, Calculated Planning

City’s incoming director of football, Hugo Viana, will be pivotal in this process. Having taken over from Txiki Begiristain, Viana’s influence is already visible. He was present during Sunday’s Manchester derby and is expected to oversee a key summer in the club’s evolution.

As Ornstein highlights, City “do not intend to prioritise transfer targets until new director of football Hugo Viana gets fully under way in his role.” That patience could prove crucial. Rather than rushing into the market, City seem willing to take a broader view — evaluating internal options like Phil Foden or even tweaking the tactical approach.

Wirtz and Gibbs-White are not like-for-like successors to De Bruyne, but perhaps that’s the point. City’s next step might not be about replication — it could be reinvention.

Profiles in Progress

Both Gibbs-White and Wirtz have contracts running until 2027, so any move would demand significant outlay. But this is a club accustomed to thinking beyond price tags. What matters more is profile, personality, and potential to grow within Pep Guardiola’s system — or beyond it, should his tenure eventually end.

Gibbs-White brings Premier League grit, versatility, and emotional leadership. Wirtz offers continental flair, spatial genius, and precocious experience. One would be a shrewd, grounded evolution. The other, a blockbuster statement of intent.

Whichever path City choose, it will be as telling about their future ambitions as it is about their respect for the past.

Our View – EPL Index

If you’re a Manchester City fan, reading this might stir mixed emotions. On one hand, seeing names like Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White linked to the club is exciting — a sign of smart, forward-thinking recruitment. But there’s also the sobering reality that Kevin De Bruyne, a once-in-a-generation playmaker, is walking away.

Gibbs-White might raise eyebrows, especially for fans accustomed to elite names arriving for elite prices. Yet his trajectory at Forest suggests he’s not just a good player, but a potential star in the right environment. He’s Premier League-proven, positionally flexible, and has shown he can lead. That’s a rare mix, and with Pep’s guidance, he could blossom further.

Wirtz is the sexier name, of course — and for good reason. His space-finding ability, sharp one-twos and calm in tight areas scream Guardiola prototype. But would Leverkusen sell? Would he adapt quickly? And would that fee — reportedly €150m — be justified if Foden’s role expands?

It also opens up wider questions: are City shifting tactically? Are they moving toward a squad more reliant on wide forwards and ball-carriers than central creators? Is Foden the solution, not a solution?

City fans may be split. But one thing’s clear: this summer’s midfield call won’t just define the next season — it could shape the next era.