Manchester City have made a decisive move in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz who Pep Guardiola views as a perfect replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. Wirtz 21 has been a massive player for Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso playing a huge part in their German league and cup double last season. Alonso’s side only lost one match across all competitions in 2023/24 which was the Europa League final against Atalanta. He scored 18 goals and provided 20 assists across all competitions last term and has performed well again this term despite his side’s drop in performances racking up 28 goal involvements in 41 appearances. As one of the highest rated attacking midfielders in Europe Wirtz has unsurprisingly been linked with a transfer to Man City this summer. Guardiola will be in the market for a new attacking midfielder following club legend De Bruyne’s exit following the expiry of his contract.
It has been reported that Wirtz and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are the Cityzens’ top targets to replace De Bruyne. Gibbs-White would bring Premier League experience and while Bundesliga signings don’t always do well in England there is no doubt that the German international is the better player. With that being the case Wirtz will cost significantly more money with Leverkusen reportedly valuing him at 110 million euros which is about 94 million pounds. According to Spanish website Fichajes City are preparing to meet the Bundesliga champions’ demands. Indeed Guardiola is keen to bring in his great desire and a player he views as a perfect De Bruyne replacement. This decisive move comes after City initiated contacts to bring Wirtz to the club.
Wirtz is also a target for Liverpool Bayern Munich and Real Madrid though it seems City are willing to go all in on this signing. The report adds that the 21-year-old is tempted to play in the Premier League. Leverkusen aiming to protect him with a clause close to 150 million may be forced to lower their demands if the player chooses not to renew. In this context the English offer close to 110 million gains strength and positions City as the favorite to seal the transfer. Furthermore the club’s new sporting director Hugo Viana has played a key role in the operation assuring Wirtz a privileged place in Guardiola’s scheme. City’s strategy aims not only to sign talent but to build its future around him. And Wirtz tempted by the idea of shining outside Germany seems increasingly closer to the Etihad.
The pursuit of Wirtz makes perfect sense for Manchester City considering the imminent departure of Kevin De Bruyne whose contract is set to expire. De Bruyne has been the creative heartbeat of City’s midfield for years helping them secure multiple Premier League titles and finally achieving Champions League glory. Finding a replacement for such an influential player was always going to be a priority for Guardiola and the City hierarchy. Wirtz represents perhaps the best like-for-like replacement available in European football right now. The young German international has shown remarkable maturity and creativity at Leverkusen establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga’s standout performers despite his relatively young age.
Wirtz’s performances under Xabi Alonso have been particularly impressive. He was instrumental in Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run in the Bundesliga last season which culminated in their first-ever league title. His ability to operate as a traditional number 10 while also drifting wide when needed demonstrates the kind of tactical flexibility that Guardiola values highly in his attacking players. The fact that he contributed directly to 38 goals last season across all competitions highlights his end product a crucial attribute for anyone hoping to fill De Bruyne’s shoes at the Etihad.
City’s willingness to meet Leverkusen’s asking price of around 94 million pounds indicates just how highly they rate the player. While this represents a significant investment even for a club with City’s resources the long-term potential of Wirtz could make it excellent business. At just 21 years old he could potentially be a key player for City for the next decade providing the kind of creative spark that has made De Bruyne such a vital component of Guardiola’s system. The involvement of Hugo Viana City’s new sporting director in these negotiations is also noteworthy. Having recently arrived from Sporting Lisbon where he helped develop talents like Bruno Fernandes Viana seems to be making a statement of intent with this pursuit.
Competition for Wirtz’s signature will be fierce with Liverpool Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all reportedly interested. However City’s financial power combined with the allure of working under Guardiola gives them a significant advantage in negotiations. For Wirtz the opportunity to become the creative focal point of one of Europe’s most dominant teams must be appealing particularly with Guardiola’s track record of developing attacking midfielders. The Spaniard has previously helped talents like Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden reach new heights and could potentially do the same with Wirtz.
Leverkusen’s reported desire to include a release clause of around 150 million euros in any new contract for Wirtz indicates they are aware of the growing interest in their star player. However if Wirtz decides against signing a new deal the German club may have to accept a lower fee rather than risk losing him for less in the future. This situation strengthens City’s position in negotiations especially if they are prepared to pay a fee in the region of 110 million euros as reported.
The timing of this pursuit is interesting given City’s ongoing battle with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches. With 115 charges still hanging over the club some might question the wisdom of making such a high-profile expensive signing at this moment. However it seems City are determined to continue building their squad regardless of these external pressures focusing instead on ensuring they remain competitive at the highest level of European football.
For Wirtz a move to the Premier League would represent the next logical step in his career progression. While the Bundesliga has provided an excellent platform for his development the Premier League offers greater global exposure and arguably a higher level of competition week in week out. Many German talents have successfully made the transition to English football in recent years including the likes of Kai Havertz and Ilkay Gundogan suggesting Wirtz could adapt quickly to the demands of the Premier League.
The reported interest in Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White as an alternative target demonstrates City’s pragmatic approach to recruitment. While Gibbs-White would represent a less expensive option and comes with proven Premier League experience he lacks the elite-level pedigree of Wirtz. The fact that City appear willing to prioritize quality over cost-effectiveness or immediate adaptation speaks volumes about their ambition and long-term planning.
The potential arrival of Wirtz could also have implications for other members of City’s squad particularly those who operate in similar positions. Players like Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva might find themselves competing for minutes with the German international though Guardiola has always preferred having multiple options in key positions. The departure of De Bruyne would certainly create space within the squad but Wirtz’s arrival would undoubtedly intensify competition for places in City’s attacking midfield positions.
For Leverkusen losing Wirtz would be a significant blow even if they receive a substantial fee. The young German has been central to their recent success under Alonso and finding a replacement with similar qualities would be extremely challenging. The club’s ability to reinvest the money wisely will be crucial to maintaining their newfound status as genuine competitors at the top of German football.
From a tactical perspective Wirtz would offer Guardiola similar creativity to De Bruyne but with a slightly different profile. While the Belgian is known for his incredible range of passing and crossing ability Wirtz tends to be more involved in intricate combination play in central areas. His dribbling ability is perhaps more refined than De Bruyne’s allowing him to operate effectively in congested areas against deep defensive blocks an increasingly common challenge for City in domestic competition.
The potential deal highlights once again City’s ability to identify and pursue the very best talents in European football. Under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour the club has developed a reputation for making strategic high-value signings that address specific needs within the squad. The pursuit of Wirtz appears to follow this established pattern with the club willing to invest heavily in a player they believe can maintain their competitive edge at the highest level.
For Guardiola personally the signing of Wirtz could represent part of his legacy at Manchester City. With speculation continuing about how long the Spaniard will remain at the Etihad bringing in a generational talent like Wirtz could help ensure the team remains competitive even if Guardiola eventually decides to move on. The manager has always shown a willingness to plan for the future alongside meeting immediate needs and Wirtz would certainly fall into both categories.
The reported fee of 94 million pounds would make Wirtz one of the most expensive signings in Manchester City’s history approaching the club-record 100 million pounds they paid for Jack Grealish in 2021. Whether Wirtz would provide better value than Grealish who has struggled at times to justify his price tag remains to be seen but his age profile and output at Leverkusen suggest he could potentially offer greater long-term returns on investment.
City’s pursuit of Wirtz also demonstrates their continued ability to compete with Europe’s other financial powerhouses in the transfer market. Despite the constraints of Financial Fair Play regulations and the ongoing investigation into their finances the club remains willing and able to make statement signings when they identify the right target. This financial muscle combined with the sporting project they can offer gives them a significant advantage when pursuing elite talents like Wirtz.
For the Premier League as a whole the potential arrival of another world-class talent would further enhance its reputation as the destination of choice for the best players in world football. Wirtz would join a growing contingent of Bundesliga exports in England’s top flight further strengthening the connections between two of Europe’s major leagues. His creative abilities and goal contributions would certainly add to the spectacle of the Premier League making him an exciting addition to English football.
The 2025 summer transfer window promises to be fascinating for Manchester City regardless of whether they successfully secure Wirtz’s signature. The departure of De Bruyne marks the end of an era at the Etihad and how the club chooses to replace him will reveal much about their vision for the future. The pursuit of Wirtz suggests they are looking for a ready-made replacement someone who can immediately step into the creative void left by the Belgian rather than a project player who might need time to develop.
