Manchester City are planning something massive again, something that is making the whole football world stop and pay attention. Pep Guardiola is not finished rebuilding this team, and after a very busy winter transfer window, it seems the Etihad side is getting ready to drop another bombshell. Reports are now saying that Manchester City are preparing a shocking move worth around £170 million to sign not one, but two star players from the same club—Bayer Leverkusen. Yes, that same Bayer Leverkusen currently flying high in Germany under the leadership of Xabi Alonso.
For a team that has won it all in the past few seasons—Premier League titles, FA Cups, and the long-awaited Champions League—this kind of transfer ambition is still catching people by surprise. Why would Pep Guardiola be planning another huge squad overhaul? The answer lies in what has happened this season. By City’s standards, things have not gone according to plan. They are not dominating the league the way they usually do. In fact, they are 15 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table, stuck in fifth place, and that has raised eyebrows.
The Champions League has not been a walk in the park either. Yes, they qualified, but they just about managed to finish in the top 24 and now face Real Madrid in a brutal two-legged knockout tie. This is not the same City side that looked unbeatable in previous seasons. There are cracks. There are problems. And Pep Guardiola, the perfectionist that he is, has seen enough. He knows he has to act fast if he wants to keep Manchester City on top of European football.
That is why the January transfer window was so busy at the Etihad. City brought in several players to freshen up the squad. First came Vitor Reis for £30 million, followed by Abdukodir Khusanov for £33 million. Then came Omar Marmoush for a huge £67 million and finally Nico Gonzalez for £50 million. These signings were not random—they were carefully selected to solve specific problems in Guardiola’s squad. But even with all that spending, Pep knows that the real fix must happen in the summer. That’s when he can fully shape the next version of Manchester City.
And now, attention has turned to two incredible players from Bayer Leverkusen: Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong. According to Caught Offside, Manchester City are now in the best position to sign the two superstars for a combined fee of around €200 million—which is about £166.6 million. That kind of money shows how serious Guardiola is. He doesn’t want to take any chances next season. He wants proven quality, young legs, and football intelligence—and Wirtz and Frimpong have all of that.
Let’s talk about Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old German is one of the most exciting young players in Europe right now. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Wirtz has taken his game to another level. This season alone, he has scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists in just 34 matches. That’s a stunning record for a midfielder. He’s the kind of player who can unlock any defence, carry the ball forward with elegance, and deliver in the final third. City fans are already imagining what he would look like playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.
But signing Wirtz will not be easy. Every top club in Europe is watching him. Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested. They all want him. But City have a big advantage—they have money, ambition, and Pep Guardiola. That combination is hard to resist for any player. The idea of playing under Guardiola, learning from one of the best managers in football history, is a dream for many young talents. City are confident they can win the race.
Then there is Jeremie Frimpong. This name is familiar to Manchester City fans because Frimpong started his career at the club. He came through the City youth system before leaving for Celtic in 2019. It was a bold move for a young right-back, but it paid off. He developed quickly in Scotland and then made the jump to Bayer Leverkusen in 2021. Since then, Frimpong has grown into one of the most dangerous and complete full-backs in Europe.
At just 24 years old, Frimpong has already made 175 appearances for Leverkusen, scoring 28 goals and assisting 43 more. Those are ridiculous numbers for a full-back. He’s fast, aggressive, technical, and incredibly intelligent. He knows when to push forward and when to defend. He’s also very familiar with the City style of play, having grown up in their system. Bringing him back to the Etihad could be a masterstroke.
Right now, City are not the only team interested in Frimpong either. Just like with Wirtz, the competition is fierce. But there is something poetic about this potential reunion. Guardiola loves players who understand the system, who have the intelligence to play in multiple roles. Frimpong is exactly that kind of player. He can play as a right-back, a wing-back, or even as a winger when needed. His versatility makes him a valuable asset for any top team—and Guardiola knows it.
For Manchester City, this double move is not just about signing talent. It’s about sending a message. A message to Liverpool, to Real Madrid, to all of Europe—that City are not going away. That they are not going to relax after winning the treble. That they are hungry for more. Guardiola is building the next generation of Manchester City stars, and Wirtz and Frimpong could be at the heart of that.
Fans are already buzzing with excitement. The thought of watching Wirtz and Frimpong in City blue is thrilling. Social media is full of speculation, line-up predictions, and highlight clips. Everyone is dreaming of what this team could look like next season. Imagine a midfield with De Bruyne, Rodri, Wirtz, and Bernardo Silva. Imagine Frimpong flying down the right wing, linking up with Julian Alvarez or Erling Haaland. It sounds like fantasy football—but it could become reality.
The pressure is also on the City board. These kinds of deals don’t happen overnight. They take careful planning, negotiation, and timing. City will have to move quickly and smartly. Bayer Leverkusen are not going to let their two biggest stars go without a fight. But if the money is right and the players want the move, then it becomes very possible.
And timing is everything. Manchester City’s upcoming match against Real Madrid in the Champions League could also play a role. It’s the kind of fixture that reminds players of the stage they want to be on. If City beat Madrid and go far again in Europe, it only makes the club more attractive to stars like Wirtz and Frimpong.
Of course, nothing is confirmed yet. These are still rumours—but very strong ones. When Fabrizio Romano or sources like Caught Offside begin talking about “full agreement” or “advanced talks,” you know something big is brewing. And Manchester City, under Guardiola, don’t usually miss when they target players.
In the end, this story is about more than just transfers. It’s about ambition. About what it means to stay at the top. Manchester City could easily sit back and say, “We’ve done enough.” But that’s not how this club works anymore. They’re always planning, always thinking ahead. And this potential £170 million swoop for two of Europe’s brightest stars is proof of that.
So now, the world watches and waits. Will Wirtz leave Leverkusen after such an incredible season? Will Frimpong return to his roots at the Etihad? Will Guardiola get the tools he needs to rebuild another dominant side? These questions will be answered in the summer. But for now, City fans can dream—and those dreams are getting louder by the day.
