With the Belgian linked to a MLS move, GOAL US writers debate the best landing spot for the Manchester City star

Kevin De Bruyne gets closer to an MLS move with every headline. There are a few things we know for certain here. The first is that the Belgian will leave Manchester City upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season. The second is that he has a long-standing interest in playing in MLS.

The third is that some configuration of Chicago Fire, D.C. United, Inter Miami and NYCFC are interested – in some form – of securing his signature. If De Bruyne is playing in the U.S. this summer, he'll likely do so with a club in a sizable and attractive market.

These are all good things from an American point of view. Big names are still necessary for a league that is trying to grow its global footprint. De Bruyne may not be a megastar, but he is one of the finest midfielders to ever grace the game.

Miami reportedly own his MLS discovery rights, but could the Man City star legitimately co-exist with Lionel Messi in South Beach? Morever, Miami’s three designated player spots are already occupied by Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Chicago now reportedly hold the priority to negotiate with De Bruyne

He will certainly have an impact – good or bad – wherever he plays. But what about the specifics? Where, exactly, should he play? Where would he be an unmitigated disaster? And what impact could have have on the league?

GOAL US writers debate it all in the latest edition of … The Rondo.

Getty Images SportWhich MLS club is the best fit for Kevin De Bruyne?

Tom Hindle: Unfortunately, it's not Miami. As much as it would be fun to see them continue to farm European stars, it makes absolutely zero sense. The issue is, none of the other three significant links are particularly exciting. NYCFC adds up due to City Group association. Chicago could probably do with some midfield creativity, and they did previously pursue Neymar. And D.C. United are simply thirsty for any big name they can, in theory, get their hands on. Let's go with NYCFC, if only because they've lost a couple of creative presences, and could do with a star man.

Ryan Tolmich: The rumor mill keeps linking him with the Chicago Fire and, yup, that checks out. The Fire seem close to arriving, both on and off the field, and De Bruyne is exactly the type of signing that can take this team forward. He'd have pieces in front of him that are legitimately goal-dangerous and, in many ways, would be a perfect mentor for rising star Brian Gutierrez. Off the field, this is exactly the type of big-time signing this club needs to make a statement locally and nationally, while proving that this ownership group is serious about winning. It all makes so much sense, which is why it's the most likely to happen of any of the options.

Alex Labidou: Thank goodness, it's not likely to be Miami. The three other teams De Bruyne has been linked with – NYCFC, D.C. and Chicago – are all fighting for the same thing: relevancy. While it would be interesting to see how the Belgian connection between De Bruyne and Christian Benteke would play out, it is more vital for MLS to get a shot in the arm in one of its two biggest markets of Chicago and New York. And those two are really neck and neck. Considering Gregg Berhalter's ties to the USMNT and his former players there, it is probable that he will sign an American star at some point – likely after the World Cup. So this seems a move NYCFC HAVE to make. It's hard to envision where the club is going to find another marketable star. Soccer is almost an afterthought in the Big Apple, despite both teams being among MLS's most successful clubs. KDB wouldn't be a cure-all, but he would be a signal of intent for The Pigeons, who are opening their new stadium in two years.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhere would he be the worst fit?

TH: Miami, which fills me with a deep sadness.

RT: A word of advice to Miami: don't even think about it. This week's CONCACAF Champions Cup loss exposed just how unbalanced this team is, and bringing in another older midfielder – even one of De Bruyne's quality – would only further unbalance it. The team's entire transfer strategy has centered around Messi's friends and South American journeyman. Ahe while they have signed a few young stars, the club needs to be targeting more of those players. The Herons need more runners anywhere on the field, and De Bruyne isn't that.

AL: Outside of Miami, the other three clubs would be an excellent fit for the Belgian. That said, D.C. would still be a far cry from contending, even if De Bruyne joins. That club has holes in every position outside of striker and at 33, De Bruyne is likely just an outstanding playmaker at this point. He's never been one to impact a game defensively and he hasn't scored more than 10 goals since 2022. It would be an expensive luxury for D.C., but it is a potential game-changer for the Fire and NYCFC, as both are in the playoff hunt.

Getty Images SportWill De Bruyne succeed in MLS?

TH: Honestly, no.MLS is brutally unkind to former Euro stars without legs, and De Bruyne's hamstrings are made of rubber bands at this point. He's immobile in the Premier League, and unless someone can throw a bag at building a roster around him – unlikely – then he might struggle in this league. More Marco Reus than Lionel Messi, at the moment.

RT: Definitely, but he has to have the right team around him. MLS is one of the remaining few leagues in which a team can carry one or two players defensively, which means De Bruyne can just focus on what he does best: creating. Surround De Bruyne with younger, hungry players and let him ping passes to whichever of them is making the best run. If that's the recipe in place, De Bruyne should thrive while helping take a team from good to great.

AL: Depends on where he lands. In some ways, this is similar to when Andrea Pirlo came to MLS. The skill was evident for anyone to see, but he was extremely limited in what he could offer when he wasn't on set pieces or threading the needle on key plays. The Premier League is a world apart from MLS, but if there's one similarity between the two leagues, it's the required athleticism to be successful. Miami have struggled recently as teams are punishing them with their pace and physical superiority. If De Bruyne goes to a team at which the midfield can cover for his deficiencies, he will be a success. But if he goes to a situation where he's expected to cover several gaps, he won't. It's that simple.

(C)Getty ImagesWould he be a 'needle-moving' signing for MLS?

TH: The good barometer for this is always "Has my mum heard of this player?" She knows the names Messi, Suarez, Beckham, Ibrahimovic and Neymar. Ask her who De Bruyne is, and she will probably be clueless. This is a long-winded way of saying he might hit with the Premier League truthers, but won't bring in any eyes outside of them. Sure, it'll be good for the league, but the star power isn't really there.

RT: It's not in the Messi-Beckham tier, and it might not be quite in the Zlatan tier, either. But it is just below that. De Bruyne is a big name and, at one point, he was right there among the best players in the world. Personality-wise, though, he doesn't have that star-power charisma that Zlatan has – and it remains to be seen how active he'd be in promoting his club. Still, this is a player that adds gravitas to MLS, even if he doesn't change the game by himself.

AL: No. De Bruyne will certainly elevate whatever team he signs with, and likely will put fans in the stands in that specific market. But will he have the impact of Messi – fans literally paying thousands on resale markets to see him play – or David Beckham, who sold out entire NFL stadiums his first year Unfortunately not. But MLS is a stronger league with De Bruyne playing in the U.S.