Manchester United monitoring former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne

Wolfsburg have indicated Manchester United have an interest in signing former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne.

After loan spells at boyhood club Genk and Werder Bremen, De Bruyne arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2013 and was tipped to have a bright future at Stamford Bridge.

But following a difficult start to life in England, where Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reportedly dropped him to the club's development side for a perceived lack of effort in training, the Belgian international was sold to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for £18m in January last year.

De Bruyne, 23, has since gone from strength to strength in the Bundesliga, where his rise has seen him linked with Paris Saint-Germain and, briefly, Manchester City.

But it would now appear United manager Louis van Gaal is in the race for the former Genk starlet's signature, with Bild suggesting the Dutchman has earmarked the schemer as a summer target.

Those claims would appear to have some weight with Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking acknowledging interest from Old Trafford.

"It is normal that clubs like Manchester United look at top people," he told Bild. "This is recognition for both his and our work."

De Bruyne's agent Patrick de Koster also added to such speculation after admitting: "I know that some clubs are interested in him," but refused to name such clubs.

Wolfsburg currently sit in second place in the German top flight with De Bruyne playing an integral role in that surge, contributing 10 assists and three goals this term.

But his Belgium teammate Axel Witsel believes his compatriot could be destined for greater things, recently telling Bleacher Report: "De Bruyne has the qualities to one day play for one of the top clubs in Europe."

De Bruyne was also one of Belgium's standout performers during their World Cup campaign in Brazil.