How Man City Could Replace De Bruyne with Gibbs-White and Wirtz

Kevin De Bruyne’s departure from Manchester City at the end of the season will mark the end of an era. A generational midfielder, De Bruyne has defined Pep Guardiola’s City tenure with his vision, leadership, and unmatched creativity. Replacing him is no simple task—and arguably, no single player can fill his boots.

But Manchester City might have a solution: not one replacement, but two.

According to multiple reports, City are planning a double midfield signing this summer to cover the wide range of qualities De Bruyne brought to the pitch. Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz have emerged as the top targets—each capable of replicating parts of what made De Bruyne irreplaceable.

Gibbs-White Could Add Energy and Drive to City’s Midfield

One of the overlooked facets of De Bruyne’s prime years was his athleticism and dynamism. His ability to drive at defences, press high, and track back made him a complete midfielder—not just a creative maestro.

While De Bruyne’s energy has waned due to injuries and age, City are looking for a younger, more mobile option to replicate this part of his game. Morgan Gibbs-White, currently at Nottingham Forest, could be that player. Technically gifted, energetic, and able to play in multiple midfield roles, Gibbs-White has impressed with his box-to-box style.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, City are keen to advance their pursuit of the England international. His ability to press, cover ground, and contribute creatively makes him an intriguing fit—especially in a system as demanding as Guardiola’s.

Wirtz Would Bring Creativity—But in His Own Unique Way

While Gibbs-White adds movement and energy, Florian Wirtz offers a different trait: final-third creativity. Long seen as one of Europe’s top prospects, the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker is reportedly admired by City, who may have an edge in negotiations due to Leverkusen’s reluctance to sell to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.

But Wirtz is not a De Bruyne clone. While the Belgian often operated centrally on the right, Wirtz is more fluid—frequently drifting left and popping up in advanced areas. His creativity comes more through dribbling and direct play, and he carries more of a goal-scoring threat than De Bruyne.

Despite stylistic differences, Wirtz’s addition would bring much-needed unpredictability and incisiveness to the City midfield—particularly against low-block defences.

De Bruyne is Irreplaceable—But Two Signings Could Bridge the Gap

De Bruyne’s unique blend of technical brilliance, leadership, and tactical intelligence makes him impossible to replace one-for-one. But City’s approach—splitting his role between two highly talented players—could prove smart.

While neither Gibbs-White nor Wirtz offer everything De Bruyne did, together, they offer enough qualities to evolve the midfield rather than replicate it. Guardiola could deploy Gibbs-White for his work rate and pressing while unleashing Wirtz as a creative, drifting attacker in advanced areas.

It’s not just about replacing De Bruyne—it’s about adapting and preparing for the next phase of City’s evolution. The pair may be costly, but if City can land both targets, they could soften the blow of losing a legend.