The financial might of the Premier League is on full display when looking at the salaries of its top players. Leading the pack is Manchester City’s midfield metronome Kevin De Bruyne, who has cemented his status as one of the league’s truly elite talents. The Belgian maestro earns a whopping £20,8 million (€24,6 million) per year, making him the highest-paid player in the English top flight. The astronomical figure is testament to De Bruyne’s immense value to Pep Guardiola, with the 31-year-old the creative heart of the team.
Since joining City in 2015, De Bruyne has been a revelation, consistently ranking among the league’s leading passers and chance-creators. His ability to dictate the tempo of games, pick out incisive passes and score crucial goals has been integral to the club’s enduring success over the past decade. Unsurprisingly, the Premier League champions have invested heavily to secure De Bruyne’s services for the long term. In 2021, he signed a new contract extension that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, further cementing his status as a cornerstone of the project.
While De Bruyne’s salary may seem exorbitant, it reflects the incredible value he brings to Manchester City, both on and off the pitch. His global popularity, coupled with his world-class performances, make him a valuable asset that the club are willing to pay handsomely to keep. Following De Bruyne in the earnings pecking order is another young superstar, Erling Haaland. The Norwegian forward, who joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund last summer, earns £19,5 million (€23,1m) per year. Haaland’s arrival has been a game-changer for the Premier League champions, with the 22-year-old already establishing himself as one of the world’s most prolific goalscorers. His physical dominance, clinical finishing and insatiable appetite for goals have made him an unstoppable force in the English top-flight.
Haaland’s signing was a statement of intent from Manchester City, who were prepared to break the bank to secure the services of the generational talent. His astronomical salary reflects the club’s confidence in his ability to lead their quest for sustained success, both domestically and in Europe. Liverpool’s talismanic winger Mohamed Salah rounds out the top three highest-paid Premier League stars. The Egyptian maestro earns £18,2 million (€21,6m) a year, cementing his status as one of the league’s highest-paid players.
Le départ potentiel de Kevin De Bruyne de Manchester City a déclenché une vague de spéculations et de débats au sein de la communauté du football. Le milieu de terrain belge, qui a été à l’origine des récents succès du club, aurait suscité l’intérêt du club saoudien d’Al-Ittihad, les deux parties étant apparemment déjà parvenues à un accord sur un éventuel transfert. Cette nouvelle a provoqué une onde de choc dans la Premier League, car De Bruyne est largement considéré comme l’un des meilleurs joueurs du monde, sinon le meilleur, à son poste. La capacité du joueur de 33 ans à contrôler le rythme d’un match, à orchestrer des mouvements offensifs et à contribuer aux buts et aux passes décisives a joué un rôle déterminant dans la domination de Manchester City sur la scène nationale et européenne.
It would appear, however, that the Manchester City hierarchy are not entirely opposed to the idea of parting ways with their talismanic midfielder. Reports suggest that the club are open to entertaining offers for De Bruyne, especially if the price is right. This stance has raised eyebrows among the club's supporters, who are used to seeing the Belgium international at the heart of their team's success. The decision to potentially sell De Bruyne is not one that Manchester City have taken lightly. The former Wolfsburg player has been a key figure in the club's transformation into one of the most formidable forces in world football, and his departure would undoubtedly leave a significant void to fill.
In anticipation of this potential scenario, Manchester City have already identified a potential replacement for De Bruyne – RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo. The Spanish attacking midfielder has made waves in the Bundesliga with his creative flair and goalscoring prowess, and it’s easy to see why Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff believe he could be a suitable successor to the Belgian maestro. Olmo’s ability to dictate the tempo of matches, unlock defences with his incisive passing and contribute to the team’s goal-scoring efforts would make him an attractive proposition for the Premier League champions. The 25-year-old’s technical skills, vision and creativity could potentially allow him to slot seamlessly into Manchester City’s system and continue the club’s tradition of playing attractive possession-based football.
However, the prospect of losing a player of De Bruyne's calibre would undoubtedly be a huge blow for Manchester City, both on and off the pitch. The Belgian's importance to the team extends far beyond his on-field contributions, as he has also become a key figure in the club's global marketing and commercial efforts.
