According to reports, Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s manager, who has saved the season from failure, knows that a major transformation is needed to reclaim the Premier League title. De Bruyne’s departure will not be the only change for City this summer; players like Ederson Moraes, Ilkay Gündogan, John Stones, Bernardo Silva, and Jack Grealish may also leave in the coming weeks to reduce the wage burden.

Guardiola, aware of the start of a new cycle, has prepared a list of targeted players, and City is ready to spend big to fulfill these demands.

One of Guardiola’s main priorities is strengthening the attacking midfielder position. De Bruyne, the key figure in City’s project since his arrival, will leave a significant void.

Finding a player of similar quality is nearly impossible, but a few players could fill a similar role. Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen’s star, is City’s dream option, but Leverkusen’s high financial demands have made this transfer less likely in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest’s midfielder, has emerged as a more realistic option.

Gibbs-White, born in Stafford, has been a key figure in Nottingham Forest’s attack under Nuno Espírito Santo this season and, with his brilliant performances, is on the verge of establishing himself among football’s elite. These displays have attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs, especially Manchester City.

According to Fabrizio Romano, City has made progress in signing the English midfielder in recent weeks. Gibbs-White is one of City’s top priorities, but negotiations with Nottingham Forest will be difficult. Forest has no need to sell their star, especially as the team may have a chance to qualify for the Champions League next season if they succeed in the final stretch. Romano says reaching an agreement with the player will not be a problem, but Forest is resisting external offers.

This is not the first time City has spent heavily on Premier League stars. Since Guardiola’s arrival, the club has invested heavily in players like John Stones, Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, Riyad Mahrez, and Kyle Walker. Gibbs-White could be the latest gem in Guardiola’s collection. Will he be the last star Pep elevates to the top at the Etihad?