Manchester City is focusing on signing Florian Wirtz, a talented playmaker from Bayer Leverkusen, after realizing that Jude Bellingham does not want to leave Real Madrid. Wirtz is highly regarded as one of the best young playmakers in Europe and has been impressive for both Germany and Bayer Leverkusen. At just 21 years old, he has already made 29 appearances for Germany and has scored 56 goals and provided 63 assists in 191 appearances for Bayer.
Last season, he played a vital role in Bayer’s Bundesliga title-winning campaign. Although Manchester City had shown interest in Bellingham, it became clear that the England midfielder is committed to staying at Real Madrid after winning both the LaLiga title and the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola has been keen on signing Bellingham for City, but the player’s reluctance to move has led City to explore other options, with Wirtz emerging as a primary target. Reports suggest that Manchester City is preparing a record-breaking €150 million (£125 million) offer for Wirtz, which would surpass the £100 million transfer fee paid for Jack Grealish in 2021. This potential move indicates City’s strong desire to strengthen their midfield, and with Wirtz eager to join Guardiola’s side, the club is optimistic about the deal. However, Bayern Munich is also interested in signing the German international, which could lead to a bidding war between the two clubs.
In addition to Wirtz, Manchester City is also looking at Jeremie Frimpong, another Bayer Leverkusen player. Frimpong had a stint at Manchester City but failed to make an impact before moving to Celtic and eventually flourishing at Bayer. Liverpool is also said to be interested in Frimpong as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is expected to move to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
Meanwhile, River Plate, an Argentine club, has been urged to make a move for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne. The midfielder is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and former River Plate player Carlos Morete has suggested that the club should offer him a lucrative contract. Morete believes that De Bruyne, at 33 years old, could be a game-changer for River Plate and help them challenge for titles. De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire, and he would be available on a free transfer, making him an attractive target for clubs looking to add a world-class player without paying a transfer fee.
Manchester City’s potential signing of Wirtz and their interest in other players show their continued ambition to strengthen their squad, especially after losing out on Bellingham. As the transfer window approaches, it will be interesting to see how these deals unfold, with City competing with other top clubs to secure their targets.
