Florian Wirtz (foto: Getty Images)
Manchester City view Florian Wirtz as the natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne. But with Bayern Munich pushing hard, the German playmaker could spark one of the summer’s biggest transfer battles.
Florian Wirtz is shaping up to be the hottest name of the summer transfer window, with Manchester City and Bayern Munich preparing for a transfer battle over the Bayer Leverkusen superstar.
Bayern have already identified the 22-year-old playmaker as their top priority, and reports in Germany suggest an informal agreement may already exist between the player’s camp and the Bavarian giants. However, there is still no definitive commitment—and that leaves the door wide open.
According to the latest German reports, Manchester City are stepping up their pursuit, with Pep Guardiola personally backing a move for Wirtz as he seeks a long-term replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. Guardiola reportedly sees Wirtz as a generational talent with the creativity, vision, and versatility to thrive in his tactical system—just as De Bruyne did after his 2015 arrival from Wolfsburg.
Wirtz enjoyed a sensational season under Xabi Alonso, helping Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title and reach the Europa League final. With 18 goals and 19 assists across all competitions, his form has drawn attention from Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG, and Real Madrid as well.
Still, there are signs that Wirtz may prefer to remain in Germany. His current contract runs until 2027, and any deal will likely break German transfer records. The benchmark remains Ousmane Dembélé’s €135 million move from Dortmund to Barcelona in 2017. Wirtz’s valuation could exceed that if several European giants enter the race.
City’s advantage could lie in Guardiola’s direct interest and the opportunity to step into a midfield shaped for stars. But Bayern’s track record of convincing Bundesliga talent to stay in Germany may prove decisive.