Bad news for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich? Surprise development in Florian Wirtz transfer saga

The transfer saga involving Florian Wirtz, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and a few more elite clubs from Europe seems to have taken a huge new twist as Bayer Leverkusen are seriously attempting the extension of the player's contract by one more year, according to a report from Sport BILD. Wirtz has been on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs for a while, but this recent development could potentially jeopardise the transfer plans of some of those teams.

The report from Sport BILD further mentions that Leverkusen want Wirtz, whose contract expires in 2027, to stay for at least one more year in the case that he signs a renewal. The first round of talks with Wirtz's entourage, which includes his father Hans Wirtz and mother Karin Groß, have already taken place, with the player sharing an especially close relationship with the latter.

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro and managing director of sport Simon Rofles have been working behind the scenes to ensure that the player stays put at the BayArena beyond 2027. The club is adamant that Wirtz will be sold for no less than €150 million even after he enters the final year of his current contract after the 2026 World Cup, but they absolutely do not want to leave anything to the future.

Leverkusen higher-ups are wary of the fact that in two years from now, Wirtz's market value could diminish and to prevent this from happening, they are firm in their bid to extend the player's contract.

If Wirtz doesn't oblige, he'll be up for sale in the summer of 2025.

All things considered, there have been no negotiations regarding the wages. However, it is expected that along with an extension, Leverkusen will make Wirtz their highest-paid player, perhaps in the club's history.

As things stand, Real Madrid lead the race to sign the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, with Xabi Alonso increasingly likely to swap Bundesliga for a job in the Spanish capital as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti.