
Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin de Bruyne (Reuters)
VfL Wolfsburg are bracing themselves for "14 very difficult days" until the transfer window closes as they try to fend off interest from Manchester City in Kevin De Bruyne, coach Dieter Hecking said on Monday.
"These are going to be difficult days for all involved," Hecking said. "And even if our days together should not continue, I would already now like to wish him all the best."
Hecking was speaking as the Belgium playmaker was given the trophy for Lower Saxony footballer of the year following his outstanding debut season with the Wolves.
De Bruyne, 24, joined the Volkswagen-backed club from Chelsea in the summer of 2014.
Wolfsburg are eager to keep hold of the player to lead their Champions League challenge, but German magazine Kicker reported that City made an offer last week in excess of 60 million euros ($66.5m, £42.6m).
"Our objective is very clear, we want to keep him. There is no plan B," said Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs after his side's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening game of the new Bundesliga season on Sunday.
De Bruyne was outstanding last season in being named Germany's player of the year, but he struggled to produce his best on Sunday and was booed before being taken off 15 minutes from time.
"I wanted to show that we could also play without him in the last quarter of an hour," explained Hecking. "It certainly wasn't one of his best games."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: