It has been several weeks since Kevin De Bruyne announced he would not be renewing his contract with Manchester City, making this his final season at the Etihad Stadium. Since then, MLS has activated its plan to bring in a new star to boost the league's media presence, and many teams have been linked to Kevin De Bruyne's future. However, according to the latest information from ‘The Athletic’, it’s Chicago Fire that is currently leading this race.

De Bruyne is drawn to Chicago Fire’s project

Months before this news surfaced, it seemed that San Diego was the club showing the most interest in signing Kevin De Bruyne—especially since it's a place he enjoys vacationing and feels comfortable. However, their sporting director Tyler Heaps ruled out the move due to salary cap limitations. A similar situation is happening at Inter Miami, which has already filled all its Designated Player slots.

Thus, the three clubs seen as frontrunners to sign Kevin De Bruyne were DC United, which now seems to be targeting Pogba; NYCFC, owned by the City Group; and Chicago Fire, which appears to have taken the lead in negotiations. The team’s current situation isn’t the best, as they’re mid-table in MLS right now. Still, according to ‘The Athletic’, Kevin De Bruyne sees the project as appealing.

Chicago Fire faces tough Premier League competition for De Bruyne

That said, even though Chicago Fire may seem to have won the battle among MLS clubs… a strong contender has emerged in the Premier League to sign Kevin De Bruyne as a free agent: Aston Villa. The club could still offer the Belgian playmaker an ambitious project, currently sitting high in the standings and fighting for a Champions League spot.

If this move sending Kevin De Bruyne to Villa Park were to happen, Manchester City might actually benefit. According to various media reports in England, Manchester City has identified Morgan Rogers as a top transfer target for next season. He’s a player who was previously part of Manchester City’s youth system, and now they’ll have to make an offer exceeding €70 million to convince Aston Villa to enter negotiations.