Chelsea have officially said that they are in negotiations with Belgian club Genk over a potential transfer involving their winger Kevin De Bruyne. Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with Chelsea for quite some time now, but it has taken the club around 12 months in order to decide whether to make an official move or not. Kevin De Bruyne has played against Chelsea this season in the Champions League. Even though he did not impress in the match at Stamford bridge, in which Genk lost 5-0, he was one of the better players for the club in the return leg when they managed a 1-1 draw.
It is thought that Kevin De Bruyne would cost around £ 8 million and that there is a possibility of him going back to the club on a loan deal for one year. This would provide Kevin De Bruyne with enough experience to handle the pressure at Chelsea once he becomes a permanent first-team player. He is expected to become the replacement for Salomon Kalou, who is expected to leave Chelsea at the end of the season on a Bosman transfer. Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda are some of the other key players expected to leave Stamford bridge this season.
“Dirk Degraen is in London and the expectation is that it (the transfer of De Bruyne) will be finished this week. The assumption is that Kevin de Bruyne will be transferred to Chelsea and then will finish the season (on loan) at Genk,” a Genk spokesman said. Chelsea have already signed two Belgian players this season. Hence, Kevin de Bruyne will find no shortage of companions if he eventually arrives in London. Villas-Boas has been looking to bring down the age of the Chelsea squad, and Kevin de Bruyne would be a valuable addition.