Man City going all out to sign Florian Wirtz as Kevin De Bruyne replacement amid Bayern, Liverpool & Man Utd interest in Bayer Leverkusen star

Wirtz has emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in European football, attracting interest from a host of elite clubs. According to Sky Germany,City view Wirtz as the ideal candidate to fill De Bruyne's shoes should he make a move to Saudi Arabia next summer with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr interested in getting him. Moreover, at 33 years old, questions are being raised about his long-term fitness and form as the midfielder has already missed a bulk of the matches for City last season and is struggling with fitness issues.

Meanwhile, Bayern have also made him their primary target for the upcoming transfer window. Their sporting director, Max Eberl, has already initiated conversations with Wirtz's camp, signalling the Bavarian club's intent to make a significant move. The player also believes that a stint at Bayern will be beneficial to his development before considering a move abroad, indicating his preference to extend his stay in a familiar league for a few more seasons.

In addition to City and Bayern, other Premier League giants such as Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United have reportedly expressed their interest in Wirtz. From outside England, French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the young midfielder. Even Real Madrid, always on the lookout for top talent, have been monitoring Wirtz.

Leverkusen have made it clear that their preference is to sell Wirtz abroad, hoping to avoid strengthening domestic rivals like Bayern Munich. The German club’s ideal scenario would see Wirtz extend his current contract, which runs until 2027, but the prospect of a lucrative sale remains on the table. Should Wirtz be sold, Leverkusen are reportedly aiming for a record transfer fee, with a target of aound €90 million (£75m/$98m) potentially including bonus payments or player swaps.

There are suggestions that Bayern might offer young talent Paul Wanner, currently on loan at Heidenheim, as part of a potential deal for Wirtz. Whether Leverkusen will entertain such an offer remains to be seen, but it’s clear that any negotiations involving Wirtz will involve significant financial outlays and strategic planning.