Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola sees Kevin de Bruyne as a contender for the club captaincy.

With City's current captain David Silva leaving at the end of this season after a decade of brilliance, De Bruyne is the favourite to take on the armband.

De Bruyne's loyalty to City is set to be rewarded with the captain's armband, with Guardiola outlining his criteria for a leader when asked if the 29-year-old was the ideal candidate to replace Silva.

“It depends on him," said Guardiola. “The leaders decide for themselves in their behaviour and how they behave, on and off the pitch.

“It's the relationship to the team, how you think for the club. It comes naturally, without force.

“If it must come, it will come. It depends on him, it depends on especially his team-mates, if the other ones trust in him, on Kevin."