Earlier this week, AS reported Real Madrid will face competition from Manchester City in the chase for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
Last season, the attacking midfielder managed 18 goals and 20 assists and played a key role in helping his side win the title. He has six goals and an assist from 10 games this season.
According to Sky Deutschland, the 21-year-old is on the radar of several European clubs and Manchester City are included in this list.
The report provides the latest on the Premier League winners’ interest and the German club’s plans.
Bayern Munich have made the Germany international the main target for next summer. Their sporting director, Max Eberl, has held talks with the player’s camp. His idea is to join the Bavarian club and then move abroad.
Wirtz is attracting interest from the Citizens, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. With regards to Manchester City, it’s claimed they are ‘going full throttle’ to secure his services.
The English champions see see him as a ‘top solution’ to replace 33-year-old Kevin De Bruyne, if he were to leave the Etihad when his deal expires at the end of this season.
Sky say Pep Guardiola’s deal expires in 2025, without mentioning whether his future could impact the Citizens’ deal for Wirtz.
Xabi Alonso’s side wish to retain him for long and offer him an extension. According to the report, a sale seems ‘more likely’ at this moment in time.
In that case, Bayer Leverkusen’s intention is to sell him abroad for a club-record fee of €90-100m plus bonuses. They are determined to block his sale to Bayern, and this should please Manchester City and Wirtz’s other foreign suitors.
