- Wirtz is one of Europe’s most-sought after players following success in Germany
- Bayern appeared front-runners to sign the star but City still have hopes of deal
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Manchester City are desperately trying to hijack Bayern Munich’s deal to sign Florian Wirtz this summer, according to a report.
With Kevin De Bruyne leaving the former Premier League champions at the end of the season, Pep Guardiola has been preparing another swoop into the market to strengthen his side and had reportedly earmarked Bayer Leverkusen star Wirtz as his top target.
Wirtz has once again been key for Xabi Alonso’s side this season and the 22-year-old has attracted interest from several of Europe’s top clubs. Leverkusen are set to have their squad picked apart, with Alonso leaving to take over at Real Madrid and Jeremie Frimpong closing in on a move to Liverpool.
The German international, though, won’t go on a cheap, with Bayern, according to Bild, prepared to offer €100million (£84.7m) to bring him to the Allianz Arena.
That hasn’t stopped City trying to get themselves involved in negotiations, however. Bild report that Wirtz has told his current club that no agreement is in place with any other club but has been willing to speak to others, despite being contracted until 2027.
And it is reported that Leverkusen have now received a concrete offer from City for Wirtz, with Pep Guardiola having engaged in discussions with the player directly.
Manchester City are reportedly looking to hijack Bayern Munich’s move for Florian Wirtz
Wirtz is said to be valued at £126million by Bayern Leverkusen after a successful few years
Reports suggest that City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken directly to the midfielder with hopes of securing a deal
Despite reaching the final of the FA Cup and being just three points behind second placed Arsenal in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side have fell considerably short of their own high standards this season.
A nine game run in the Christmas period saw the club secure just a single league win, marking the worst spell of Guardiola’s tenure at the club thus far.
Following years of inactivity in the January window, City were decisive in looking to bolster their ranks this year, bringing in the likes of Aboukir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis for considerable fees.
Bild report that while City have made an offer – the price of which is not known – Bayern have not yet made any sort of offer to the club itself. Leverkusen’s asking price, meanwhile is said to be €150m (£126.2m).
The 22-year-old has scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists in 44 appearances this season.
It follows a hugely impressive campaign where Wirtz was vital in Leverkusen’s unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga season, which also saw them pick up the DFB-Pokal.
Wirtz has made 29 appearances for Germany, scoring six times, and has established himself as one of Europe’s hottest prospects.
In February, former Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who is now on the supervisory board, announced his side would target Wirtz this summer and it seems as though that is now the direction of travel.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich are seemingly front-runners to secure a deal for Wirtz
He is one of a number of stars who are set to depart Leverkusen this summer, including boss Xabi Alonso
Former Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said earlier this year that ‘it must clearly be our goal to sign Wirtz’
In an interview with AZ, Rummenigge said he makes ‘no secret of the fact that it must clearly be our goal to sign Wirtz.’
He added: ‘Everyone at FC Bayern agrees that he is exactly the player we want to sign. Not to weaken Leverkusen, but to strengthen us.’
Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness has also spoken about Wirtz’s qualities in a separate interview with AZ, but admitted there could be financial obstacles.
