Het Laatste Nieuws report that the 17-year-old has already visited potential employers in Germany in recent weeks and is closing in on a decision. Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen have all held concrete talks with the player over his sporting development and role, though no frontrunner has emerged yet.
De Cat, born on 19 July 2008, stands 1.92 metres tall and operates as a central defensive midfielder. He came through the Anderlecht academy, signed his first professional contract in October 2023 and has established himself in the first team this season, making one senior appearance for the Belgian national team.
Anderlecht are seeking a minimum of €25 million with one year remaining on his contract. The Belgian club is aware that the Bundesliga sides will push back on that figure, but the three-way competition should help maintain the price.
Bayern Munich had previously shown interest but their focus has reportedly cooled. VfB Stuttgart discussed the player as a potential successor to Angelo Stiller, though only if Stiller departs.
De Cat did not make Belgium's World Cup squad for the tournament in North America.
The choice between Dortmund, Leipzig and Leverkusen will largely come down to which club offers the clearest pathway into regular first-team football.