The reporter reported coldly Pep Guardiola did not deliver on his pre-match promise and used the FA Cup to "deliver" for De Bruyne. The Belgian midfielder is in talks with Napoli but says there is still a chance to play for Manchester City in the Club World Cup. Pep Guardiola knows full well that Kevin De Bruyne will eventually have to leave, and that the Belgian will not be able to get a perfect farewell until he leaves. From now on, Pep Guardiola will have to put the search for Kevin De Bruyne's replacement on the urgent agenda to fill the void left by the departure of the Belgian superstar as soon as possible.

Wirtz, Da Reinders, Olmo, Gibbs White, Tielemans, there are many candidates, but it is still unknown who will take over the shirt left by De Bruyne.

180 million pounds to buy "double insurance"?

Kevin De Bruyne is the second central player under Pep Guardiola to score 250 goals. Messi, naturally. The Blue Moon Army is too dependent on De Bruyne, in addition to De Bruyne's super ability to organize attacks and participate in goals, many games Manchester City also rely on his luck to save the day. Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are the two fixed stars in Manchester City's front and backfield, and in this sense, it will be extremely difficult for Manchester City to find the ideal successor for De Bruyne.

British media revealed that Manchester City is ready to spend 180 million pounds to win the No. 10 position of Wirtz and Reinders before the Club World Cup. Wirtz has 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games this season, with excellent statistics, and the German international, who is worth up to 140 million euros, has Bayern bidding, and Bayer Leverkusen has offered a sky-high price of 150 million euros. As for Reinders, Milan's attitude is also clear: the transfer fee will not be less than the 67 million euros that Kaka paid that year. The salary space freed up by De Bruyne's departure is enough for Manchester City to achieve a "one-for-two" on personal terms.

Although the Wirtz family visited the Manchester City base on May 13, the two sides also held direct talks. But Wirtz's father has a say in his son's football affairs, and he prefers Bayern so that his son can sign for Adidas at the same time. Wirtz himself is inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another year and seek a move after next summer's World Cup. But Bayer Leverkusen has all but decided on his successor, and the final decision is still in his own hands. Apparently Bayern have the upper hand at the moment, and Liverpool have also met with the Wirtz family. All this has forced Manchester City to consider listing Barcelona's Olmo as a "B option".

Milan's big Reinders is worth only 50 million, but with 15 goals and 5 assists in 52 games this season, he is indeed a suitable second choice. The 26-year-old Indonesian-Dutch midfielder was Milan's main bargaining chip in filling the financial deficit after a failed season. Italian media claim that Manchester City made an initial offer of 55 million euros, with a maximum of 70 million. But Milan wants 75 million to 80 million euros, selling more than Kaka's highest price in team history (67 million). Compared with Wirtz, Reinders is more likely to make a deal.

Premier League "familiar" candidates

British media suggest that if Guardiola is unable to introduce the above-mentioned "double insurance", it is also a reasonable choice to consider an attacking midfielder who is more familiar with the Premier League. Aston Villa's 28-year-old Tielemans is a little older but has as much experience as seven Premier League seasons under his belt. The Belgian midfielder made a name for himself earlier, playing as a number 10 at Unai Emery's Aston Villa.

Defensively, Tielemans has a 68.7 percent steal success rate, a 58.2 percent one-on-one duel success rate, a 57 percent aerial duel success rate, and has won the ball at least five times per game. He has been a central figure in setting the tone for Villa on and off the ball. Attacking and defensively, Thielemans can play as a number 10, eight or six, making him the perfect 'replacement' for Kevin De Bruyne, more in line with City's style of passing football. If Villa misses out of next season's Champions League, there is a high probability that they will sell Tielemans for cash. What's more, Tillemans and Marmush, Grealish, and the rookie Oscar Bob that Guardiola is ready to promote are all in the same agency, and there are no obstacles to the transfer operation.

Another option is new England international Gibbs White, a 22-year-old Jamaican midfielder with an age advantage. Nottingham Forest bought the club's all-time £25 million three years ago, with a further £17 million floating fee. With six goals and 10 assists in 32 games this season, he is already captain of Nottingham Forest, winning the Under-17 World Youth Championship (2017) and the Under-21 European Youth Championship (2023) for England, making him the ideal candidate to add to City's presence at the Three Lions. Gibbs White's value has surged fivefold from €10 million when he joined three years ago to €50 million, and City must be prepared for a high premium if they want to buy it.