Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that the Citizens would "regret" letting Kevin De Bruyne leave the club this summer and has backed the "true icon" to sign a new contract.
De Bruyne is facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium and the experienced playmaker will turn 34 years of age on June 28, just two days before his current contract at Man City is due to expire.
As things stand, De Bruyne is yet to enter formal talks over an extension and has subsequently been tipped to join a club in either MLS or the Saudi Pro League.
However, it has also been suggested that De Bruyne is open to staying at Man City for at least one more year and would accept a bit-part role in Pep Guardiola's squad next season.
De Bruyne will be "honest with himself" when making a decision about his future according to Guardiola, who has since distanced himself from speculation surrounding the City star's future, insisting that a final decision will be made between De Bruyne, his agent and the club, while the Catalan focuses on his team and "finishing the season in the best position possible".
Will De Bruyne stay or leave Man City this summer?
Asked if he is surprised that speculation about De Bruyne's future has dragged on for so long, McInerney told Sports Mole: "I'm not really surprised. I think the turbulent nature of the season has sort of led to this moment.
"In another year, when everything's a lot more stable. I presume De Bruyne is playing more regularly. I think he's probably doing much better than he is this year, even with injuries, because I think the team would be more set up to get the best out of him still, and I think we'd probably know by now what's going to happen.
"I think Guardiola's right to distance himself (from contract negotiations). I don't think it's anything to do with Guardiola, [but] I do feel there's not a manager in world football that would say no to another season of Kevin De Bruyne."
Regarded by many as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, six-time winner De Bruyne has almost completed his 10th full season at Man City and in that time has recorded 106 goals and 174 assists in 413 appearances across all competitions.
In recent years, De Bruyne has been troubled with injury and fitness issues and his body now seems to be struggling to cope with the rigours of elite football, raising question marks over whether he should remain at the club beyond this season.
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Man City "will be tempted" to hand De Bruyne contract extension
However, McInerney has tipped De Bruyne to stay at Man City and believes that the Citizens cannot let him leave unless they are "1,000% certain" that he cannot compete at the required level.
"I know he's not his best and the levels have dipped, but he's still Kevin De Bruyne and if you want that bigger squad next season, which Guardiola said that they need because he's realised the squad's just too small for modern football standards, you take De Bruyne in it. You just do," said McInerney.
"He's our captain, he's our leader. Even if he plays as a rotation player - and there's some hints that he's happy with the idea of that because he wants to be ready for the World Cup and he thinks the Premier League would get him more ready for that.
"I do think that De Bruyne will stay. I think they'll be tempted to give him another contract. I think De Bruyne will accept a more rotational role where he starts once every two or three games, comes on every other game. I think he'll play 30 to 40 games, but it won't be the 50 to 60 that he used to. I think that would be the right decision.
"As much as I'm a big fan of the idea of the next generation coming through, Kevin De Bruyne is Kevin De Bruyne. I don't think you let go of a player that good unless you're 1,000% certain that it's not there anymore and that he doesn't want it.
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De Bruyne extension could set up "beautiful ending" for "once-in-a-lifetime" player
"If he wants it and we see signs - and we did against Bournemouth see signs that that guy can still cut it at the highest level - then you keep him. I think it's that simple."
McInerney added: "I would be disappointed if this was his final year at City because it's been underwhelming and I do feel like De Bruyne needs to go out on a bigger high than that.
"I think if he signed another year and he said this will be my last year at Man City, and we all knew it, and we could plan this big send-off for him, and we could move forward, I think that would be a much more beautiful ending for a true icon of the game, a once-in-a-lifetime level player.
"I think he'll stay, I think he will do. I don't think either side are ready to let go yet, be it him or City. Something in the water tells me that we've got another year of Kevin De Bruyne. I might be wrong there, but I think we'd regret it if we'd let him go now anyway."
McInerney has also shared his thoughts on whether Man City will look to get some of their transfer business done early ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup this summer - De Bruyne's contract is currently due to expire when the last-16 stage of the competition in underway.
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
Oliver Thomas
