Pep Guardiola 'picks' Kevin De Bruyne's replacement! Man City step up pursuit of in-demand Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz

The 21-year-old midfielder has shone for Leverkusen since he broke into the side as a teenager and was integral to the club winning their first Bundesliga title in a historic unbeaten campaign last season. He had been tipped with a move to Real Madrid, but now City believe the German can offer the same dynamism in midfield as their outgoing legendary playmaker, per the Daily Mail. Since the start of last season, Wirtz has registered 41 goal contributions in his 57 games and has grown into one of the most exciting players in world football.

It is little surprise that Wirtz has his suitors and has been identified as a suitable replacement for De Bruyne. The Belgian was also a star in Germany, firing Wolfsburg to the DFB Pokal and a second-place finish in the Bundesliga, before making the switch to Manchester. He has since gone on to make 413 appearances for City, scoring 106 goals, registering 174 assists and winning every trophy there is to win.

Asked as to whether De Bruyne can be replaced, Guardiola offered a familiar answer. He said: "There are things that cannot be substituted. To say bye to this type of player is so difficult. I'd love Vincent [Kompany] to be here eternally, Sergio [Aguero], too, and now Kevin.

"To say bye to these connections, these relations, for the manager, the mates, the fans, is not easy. In England or in every country, there are players who are unique, that represent what the club want to be and Kevin is one of them.

"Now it's a bit of a shock for the fans, but people remember how blessed, how happy they were for many, many years to have a player who gave absolutely everything. Always Kevin will be there in my memory and he cannot be forgotten."

It could be a summer of upheaval for both De Bruyne and Wirtz. While the Belgian is expected to move out of Europe, with Saudi Pro League and MLS sides battling for his signature, Wirtz will be the target of a host of Europe's biggest clubs.