Kevin De Bruyne downplays the likelihood of a January move to Chelsea

by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 4, 2012 3:58 PM GMT in Chelsea FC: Transfer Rumours & News

De Bruyne has been on our radar for a long time and was very nearly a Chelsea player on deadline day during the summer. His name is inevitably going to come up often in transfer rumors now that the window is open again, so I guess it's a very good thing that some of the first news about De Bruyne involves some quotes from the player himself. Asked about his future plans De Bruyne said:

It is the intention to find something else at the end of the season. Genk knows that, I have already told them last summer.

It's not too surprising that De Bruyne would feel it's time to move on from the Belgian League. Despite having a slightly down season numbers-wise from last year he's still clearly one of the best players in the league. He was asked about his reduced scoring this year and if he felt it would lower Genk's asking price:

I don't think so. Genk will want at least the same. I haven't spoken about it.

He's probably right, as he's looked fairly good despite only finding the back of the net four times this season. Finally of note, he was asked if moving in January would be possible De Bruyne responded with the following:

No, I don't think so. Genk won't let me go. However, you never know if there will come an offer that can't be refused. However, for me it would be better to end the season at Genk and then make the step.

De Bruyne is Champions League cup tied and probably not a player that would step into the Chelsea first team immediately, so I really struggle to see us making him a priority in January. That's not to say we won't speak with Genk at all, but I'd be fairly surprised to see a deal come to fruition to take away their best player in January only to see him replace Josh in the basket. He's one to keep an eye on though, as we know the club is intersted at the right price.

Tweet Comment 47 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hope we get him

sooner rather later…I would have preferred Reus though…
Any update on Cahill transfer??
Mirrorfootball is running a story which says ‘Roman being on holiday hasn’t yet approved Cahill’s transfer’…hilarious…

by msreya on Jan 4, 2012 4:28 PM GMT via mobile reply actions

I don't know what there is to update

We know we’re down to negotiating personal terms at this point and their aren’t any sources out there privy to those negotiations who’ll likely ruin them by going to the media. Every outlet has pretty wildly different claims about his asking price and our offer. Anything you read at this point on the transfer is most likely garbage.

by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 4, 2012 4:34 PM GMT up reply actions

reports are saying that

He wants 100k in wages and guaranteed first team action lolol

by Bmoney556 on Jan 4, 2012 8:38 PM GMT via iPhone app up reply actions

There's also reports that he wants 120k, 70k, and 90k

The bottom line is that nobody has any sort of source in the negotiations and nobody in the club or his agent have leaked numbers. Every report you are reading along these lines is 100% bullshit.

by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 4, 2012 8:42 PM GMT up reply actions

Even I read that 120k BS...not even modric earns that much...

Cheers,
Rohi D

by Rohi D on Jan 5, 2012 4:08 AM GMT via mobile up reply actions

I want him now though. Consistently good crosser anyone?

by Valens on Jan 4, 2012 5:03 PM GMT reply actions

I find the concept of a consistently good crosser highly dubious

Such a low-percentage play, the cross, with so many variables…all we can ask for is that the cross has a “nice shape” to it “with pace” and into the “danger area”. But factor in some opposing defenders pressuring the ball and nipping at your heels (not to mention the fact that the crosser himself is moving), and consistency becomes an elusive concept likely never to be attained by anybody crossing a ball on a football pitch.

If we define consistence in more baseball-esque terms, 1-out-of-3 will get the job done. The Premier League’s best certainly hover right around this mark. According to Opta, only Lampard and Ivanovic exceed 33% accuracy out of Chelsea’s starters (Malouda & Anelka are the other two). Most everybody else is in the 20s, with Sturridge and Ramires bringing up the rear in the teens and single digits, respectively.

by DPeezy on Jan 4, 2012 5:29 PM GMT up reply actions

I see what you mean, but you can tell when someone can't cross well (Ramires, Bosingwa)

and when someone consistently delivers great crosses (even if they dont connect) like Robben and De Bruyne here.

Actually, one of my Belgian friends says he doesn’t see KdB as a winger at all. He sees him as CM. He says he’s watched him play for Belgium youth teams and that’s where his best position is. Apparently, he doesn’t play there for Genk because they have a ton of CMs and they need him out wide. So he can play all across the middle (AM or CM) and the wings. Versatility for the win (reminds me of Moutinho in that regard).

by Valens on Jan 4, 2012 5:40 PM GMT up reply actions

Moutinho doesn't play on the wings...

He can cross but isn’t pacey at all

by theRamster on Jan 4, 2012 11:38 PM GMT up reply actions

Well, considering how much we like to play the cross, having someone that might deliver them well wouldnt be bad

but he would be ineligible for CL play, so I could see us waiting until the summer if there wasnt a plan for him to build up in the reserves or be loaned first. Then again, a purchase of him wouldnt mean we wouldnt find someone that could fill the starting spot in the meantime.

by alynne4307 on Jan 4, 2012 7:37 PM GMT up reply actions

This transfer window is surely going to be exciting but may disappoint us too as we are hoping alex and anelka both to be replaced.One of them may be a big name,but jan transfers havent been gracious in the recent past.I pray that cahill expects not 120 but 150k so that we start looking at some other better defenders!

By the way,the piazon terms are already met so will he be eligible to play against portsmouth??OR official transfer is still left?

by dblues on Jan 4, 2012 5:11 PM GMT reply actions

hi guys, im new. but i was wondering why can’t we buy him, loan him back to genk for the remainder of the season?

by CardinaLnGold on Jan 4, 2012 5:34 PM GMT reply actions

Genk might not want that.

by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 4, 2012 6:00 PM GMT up reply actions

why not?

he said he wants to leave this summer, either way he will be gone. why not just wrapped this up now?

by CardinaLnGold on Jan 4, 2012 6:04 PM GMT up reply actions

I don't know

by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 4, 2012 6:09 PM GMT up reply actions

Because it's clearly not in Genk's best interest

More teams will have money to spend in the summer, so Chelsea are more likely to have some competition to drive up the price. Unless Chelsea overpay for him it makes absolutely no sense for them to sell right now.

by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 4, 2012 6:12 PM GMT up reply actions

OT. But needed to share this.

by Gautam Cfc on Jan 4, 2012 6:24 PM GMT reply actions

Cesc keeps a picture of himself kissing the Arsenal badge at his house in Barcelona

he calls it one of the best pictures he has. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao5t0RLdSnI&feature=related

Good for Chelsea they have Lamps JT and Drogba though.

by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 4, 2012 6:38 PM GMT up reply actions

Yeah, I tried to keep a picture of me kissing an ex around the house, too

Let’s just say the wife was not happy.

by DPeezy on Jan 4, 2012 7:24 PM GMT up reply actions 1 recs

*displayed around the house

by DPeezy on Jan 4, 2012 7:27 PM GMT up reply actions

I think a better analogy would to be

thinking of the clubs as mom and dad. The custody battle could’ve gone better.

by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 4, 2012 7:28 PM GMT up reply actions

If it illustrates anything, it's that

badge kissing is not taken seriously by all the players, and fans probably take it too seriously. Would be nice, though, that if it is a token of some undying love to the fans, that the players only do it when they really mean it. But maybe Ade and Nasri did at that moment… who knows?

by alynne4307 on Jan 4, 2012 7:41 PM GMT up reply actions

I cheer on players kissing the badge

but I never perceive it as eternal love for a club. In fact it’s the present that counts, and not that a player will stay at a club forever. The thought of it alone feels weird to consider

Tor ilisar'thera'nal!

by Maiev on Jan 4, 2012 8:20 PM GMT up reply actions

I would agree...

many fans don’t though… or many fanatical fans don’t. Not to mention, things can change behind the scenes and go south pretty quickly. Or someone that doesnt really have that loving relationship with the club can always grow into it.

by alynne4307 on Jan 4, 2012 8:25 PM GMT up reply actions

Of course I'd love players who feel "loyal" to a club

but “loyalty” in football is really a fragile concept to me. If a player doesn’t feel happy at a club anymore then it’s time to move on, for both club and player and especially fans. I feel kissing the badge is more a sign for the present; a player expresses gratitude for fans at the time being, and not some eternal vow.

Yeah, accuse me I’m the fleeting and elusive type, but the sheer concept of eternal love alone is something more for fairy tales and fables then something serious to me that I grow even tired of it when reading a serious novel … :(

Tor ilisar'thera'nal!

by Maiev on Jan 4, 2012 8:33 PM GMT up reply actions