Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will not be leaving the club during this summer's transfer window despite reported interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
The 33-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation over his future in recent weeks having now entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
De Bruyne has emerged as a potential target for Al Ittihad, with one report last weekend claiming that the playmaker has agreed personal terms with the Saudi Pro League club.
The Belgium international has previously admitted that he may find it difficult to turn down an "incredible" big-money contract offer from the Middle East having now entered the latter stages of his career.
However, reports of a transfer to Al Ittihad this summer have since been quashed, with it now understood that De Bruyne is yet to agree terms to join the Saudi side, who currently have Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante on their books.
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Man City handed major De Bruyne boost by Guardiola
De Bruyne is due to link up with Man City's pre-season squad in the United States in due course and in the meantime, manager Guardiola has made his stance clear over the Belgian's future at the club.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Citizens' friendly against Celtic in North Carolina on Wednesday, Guardiola said: "Kevin isn't leaving," before adding on the rest of his squad: "If someone leaves, we're going to talk about that.
"Of course, until the last day, we have chances [to make transfers], I don't rule it out the option to have new players but I think there is an 85, 90% chance we will have the same squad.
"I feel comfortable, because the quality of human beings we have in the squad is difficult to be replaced, and the quality is there.
"But we'll see, I don't know in the last moment if someone comes for some players and they leave, we're going to decide."
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De Bruyne remains key cog in Guardiola machine
De Bruyne is Man City's longest-serving player within Guardiola's current first-team squad having spent the last nine seasons at the Etihad, recording 102 goals and 170 assists in 382 appearances across all competitions.
The legendary playmaker has won a total of 16 trophies with the Citizens, including six Premier League titles and one Champions League, and is still regarded as an integral first-team member of Guardiola's squad.
De Bruyne is not the only Man City player who has been linked with a summer switch to Al Ittihad, as goalkeeper Ederson is also said to be high on their list of targets, although journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that there is a 'big gap' in valuation between the two clubs at present.
Indeed, Man City are believed to be insisting on a package worth between €50m (£42.1m) and €60m (£50.5m), but the Saudi side are 'still not close' to reaching that fee in negotiations.
Previous reports have linked Man City with a move for Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze amid uncertainty over the future of De Bruyne, but with the Belgian now set to stay at the Etihad, it remains to be seen whether the reigning Premier League champions will step up their pursuit of the 26-year-old.
Oliver Thomas
