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KDB 'schedules call with former PL manager and gives his preference on new club

  /  autty

Kevin De Bruyne has arranged a call with a former Premier League manager ahead of his impending departure from Manchester City this summer, according to reports.

The Belgian star, 33, confirmed last month that he will be moving on from the Etihad after a trophy-laden decade with the Premier League giants.

De Bruyne, whose City contract is set to expire on June 30, will be available on a free transfer this summer and has thus attracted a wealth of interest from top clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Although the midfielder will not be shy of suitors, he has reportedly already given his preference to Serie A giants Napoli and has arranged a phone conversation with Antonio Conte to discuss the potential move.

According to Sky Sports in Belgium, Napoli have offered the Manchester City captain a two-year contract with the option to extend for a third season.

De Bruyne is claimed to have already given the green light to the move but is waiting to see what he is offered in terms of a salary package.

Conte, who is two matches away from guiding Napoli to another Serie A title this season, will reportedly speak to De Bruyne over the phone to sell the project and outline his plans for the Belgian, should he remain at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium next term.

De Bruyne may not need too much convincing as he is already keen on the area, having formerly wedded his partner Michel Lacroix in Sorrento, a peninsula town a little further down the Gulf of Naples coast.

Lacroix has even been spotted house-hunting in the Italian city, according to reports.

Moreover, De Bruyne's close friend and international team-mate Romelu Lukaku is currently on the books at Napoli.

As well as starring for the Belgian national team for several years, he and Lukaku briefly lived together at Chelsea and are part of the same agency — Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports.

Revealing his decision to leave Manchester City in an emotional letter to fans last month, De Bruyne wrote: 'Dear Manchester, Seeing this you probably realise where this is heading. So I'll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.

'Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here, and you deserve to hear it from me first.

'Football led me to all of you - and to this city. Chasing this dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people... gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what - we won EVERYTHING.

'Whether we like it or not, it's time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are all grateful for what this place has meant to our family. "Manchester" will forever be on our kids' passports - and more importantly, in each of our hearts.

'This will always be our HOME. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.

'Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let's enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB.'

Napoli sit one point ahead of Inter Milan in the Serie A title race, with Parma and Cagliari to play before the end of the season.

Should De Bruyne agree to move to Napoli, he will leave the Premier League as one of the greatest midfielders to grace the division, having won six titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and a Champions League during his time at the Etihad.