Man City could see Kevin De Bruyne replacement earlier than expected as FIFA rules impact summer transfer plans

Manchester City have room to register up to 35 players in their FIFA Club World Cup squad as Kevin De Bruyne’s future remains uncertain.This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreManchester City travel to the USA this summer for the FIFA Club World Cup but don’t know yet if Kevin De Bruyne will be with them.

As Manchester City prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup, they must wait to discover what Kevin De Bruyne wants to do for the summer tournament.

De Bruyne confirmed on Friday that no talks have taken place over his participation in the Club World Cup which would require a two-week contract extension as his current deal expires midway through the tournament. Pep Guardiola said De Bruyne must tell City what he wants to do while De Bruyne seems to be waiting to hear from the club.

The midfielder also admitted that his next club will likely have a say in whether he participates given the risk of injury ahead of a new chapter. That leaves three scenarios – De Bruyne represents City and signs a short-term deal to participate, he is not included in their squad and doesn’t play in the tournament, or the elephant in the room that could see him sign for a Club World Cup rival.

That final scenario would require City to release De Bruyne early, potentially even earning a small transfer fee. Real Madrid are reportedly open to paying Liverpool €1m to release Trent Alexander-Arnold who is expected to join then when his Liverpool deal expires.

Alternatively, clubs can also add two new players to their squad between June 27 and July 3 on top of their final squad which could open up the chance for De Bruyne, Alexander-Arnold or any potential City signing to represent a new club midway through the tournament. But players can only play for one team in the tournament so De Bruyne couldn’t play for City in the group stage and someone else in the knockouts.

With City interested in Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White as possible midfield options, the chance to add them to a World Cup squad is extra incentive to get any potential deal done early.

A maximum of 35 players in the final squad will allow City to take all first team members plus fringe players like Vitor Reis, Claudio Echeverri and Oscar Bobb. If those three are included as senior players, there will be a handful of spots up for grabs for new players or academy options to join the squad – or returning loanees like Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Maximo Perrone and Callum Doyle depending on City’s plans for each.

Regarding the rules for adding new players mid-tournament, up to two new players can be added to the squad on top of the 35-man list, while players can also be called up to replace anyone whose contract expires mid-tournament as long as the total number of players added or changed don’t exceed six.

Clubs must initially submit provisional squads of up to 50 players, with one tournament regulation stating that if two clubs wish to include the same player on their respective provisional list, then the FIFA general secretariat ‘shall decide for which club the player may be listed, after hearing all concerned parties.’

So in De Bruyne’s case, should he be interested in joining another Club World Cup club, FIFA may step in to decide his future. However, City are yet to learn of De Bruyne’s plans and there is no indication there would be any such friction around his next move.

Instead, the Club World Cup rule book could offer a chance to get an earlier glimpse of De Bruyne’s replacement rather than cause an issue with the departing club legend.

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