Emenalo added that Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, as well as De Bruyne, are the “types of players” that the SPL will try to sign, following a spending spree of £767 million signing 94 overseas players last summer.
Pep Guardiola has previously spoken of how he would not stand in the way of a player if he requested to leave the club, saying: “From my point of view, I have said this to the club many times. I give my opinion to the club and they decide if the transfer suits for both sides and the player.
“Why? I think that means you are a small club [if you block a transfer]. Big clubs, they don’t care. They make decisions for the benefit of all three parties: players and both clubs – and the agents sometimes. So really it is not a problem.“
De Bruyne moved to City in 2015 from Wolfsburg and since returning to England, having been at Chelsea, he and wife Michèle have had three children.
The midfielder said he has discussed ‘an exotic adventure’ with his wife and how it would impact their family if he did move.
“For Michèle, an exotic adventure is OK,” De Bruyne added. “These are also conversations that we are increasingly having as a family. I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen. My eldest is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play for City. Once the moment comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way.”