Chelsea are not pursuing a bid to sign Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer from Manchester City, according to reports.
Earlier this month, De Bruyne announced that he is leaving City at the end of the season, marking an end to a successful 10-year stint with the Premier League champions.
The 33-year-old has started just 14 games in the Premier League this season, largely due to a hernia problem, and will see his contract expire at the end of the campaign.
De Bruyne has indicated that he is open to remaining in the Premier League, while reports this week claimed that Aston Villa have already discussed a potential move for the midfielder.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea will not be among the clubs who will be in the race to sign De Bruyne this summer.
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The report claims that Chelsea explored the possibility of signing Virgil van Dijk on a free transfer before he signed a new contract with Liverpool, but Enzo Maresca’s side do not have the same plans for De Bruyne.
Speaking last week, Joe Cole described De Bruyne as the ‘perfect’ signing for Chelsea.
De Bruyne made just nine appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge before he was sold to Wolfsburg for £18 million in 2014.
‘If he’s that worried about moving, he’s settled in England, maybe there’s another Premier League club for him,’ said Cole, who won three Premier League titles during his career with Chelsea.
‘Listen, if Alex Ferguson was about he’d be on his door when he comes home from training.
‘Is there anyone cheeky enough to try it? Do you know who he’s perfect for, do you know what…Chelsea. I know he’s been there before.
‘If you let someone go, you’re saying, ‘you’re not for us for the next two years and what we want to do’. Well, you’re on a free, you can go anywhere you want.
‘And I’m saying, and this ain’t me trying to cause trouble, if I’m Chelsea and I’m sitting around with them [the board], I’m going, ‘we need experienced players’.
‘Kevin De Bruyne, he’s been injured a bit, but what he gives the changing room as a winner, as a leader, we might only need him for 30 games a season, we can manage him.
‘Imagine him walking through the door with those young players and those difficult moments. I would say, ‘whatever you want, we’ll write it off’. Come and play for us for two years.’
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