Manchester City have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Kevin De Bruyne after Wolfsburg declared that their playmaker was not for sale.

De Bruyne, 24, was in impressive form last season, scoring 10 goals and creating 20 more as they finished second in the Bundesliga, attracting interest from City and a host of other top European clubs.

But Wolfsburg, who are backed by car company Volkswagen, say they have no need to let the Belgian international, valued at £50million, leave.

Kevin De Bruyne runs with the ball between Arsenal's Santi Cazorla (left) and Calum Chambers (right)

The Belgian midfielder was in action for Wolfsburg during the Emirates Cup clash with Arsenal on Sunday

'We are not a selling club, we don’t need the money,' said the club's sporting director Klaus Allofs.

'And in the project of Wolfsburg we want to compete one day with Bayern Munich and you need these kind of players.

'But on the other hand we have to handle it seriously and respect the interests of the player and on the other side he has to respect the interests of the club.

'Firstly, we don’t need the money and then we are not in the situation to be in negotiations with another club.'

De Bruyne, 24, has been linked with a big-money move to Manchester City this summer