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Despite strong competition from Bayern Munich and reported interest from Real Madrid, Manchester City are considered to be “firmly in the running” to secure the signature of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
City’s interest in Wirtz dates back several years, since the then-17-year-old midfielder stepped into Leverkusen’s first team to fill the void left by Kai Havertz’s move to Chelsea in 2020.
Despite suffering a significant ACL injury in early 2022 that sidelined him for ten months, Wirtz has returned to full form and has been instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable 2023/24 season. This historic campaign saw them clinch their first-ever Bundesliga title, win the DFB Pokal, and reach the Europa League final, where they suffered their only defeat of the entire season.
Following another impressive season in 2024/25, Wirtz has remained a key transfer target for Europe’s elite clubs. While speculation had recently suggested a potential move to domestic rivals Bayern Munich was gaining momentum, Manchester City’s hopes appear to have been reignited.
The Telegraph reports that Wirtz’s parents, who act as his representatives, made a “whistle-stop in Manchester,” indicating that City remain serious contenders. His father, Hans Wirtz, was reportedly seen arriving at Maastricht airport after a flight from Blackpool.
Meanwhile, in Germany, SportBild claims that a “concrete offer” from Manchester City has been submitted to Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern Munich are yet to make a formal bid but are rumored to be preparing a proposal of around €100m (£84m). Leverkusen are understood to be holding out for a fee as high as €150m (£127m).
The exact value of Manchester City’s offer has not been disclosed, but acquiring Wirtz could potentially surpass their current club-record transfer fee of £100m, which they paid for Jack Grealish in 2021.
Wirtz is reportedly viewed by Manchester City as the ideal long-term replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to leave the club at the end of his contract after not being offered a new deal. City have also been linked with other attacking midfield options, including Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, as potential alternatives.
Furthermore, Pep Guardiola’s side are also considering strengthening their central midfield options, with AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders among the players being monitored.