TRANSFER: Man City Decline interest in Wirtz

Manchester City have officially withdrawn from the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s star midfielder Florian Wirtz. Initially viewed as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne, Wirtz’s impressive season—tallying 16 goals and 15 assists—had caught City’s attention. However, the total projected cost of the deal, estimated at around £252 million (€300 million) including transfer fees and wages, led City to deem the move financially unviable .

This decision aligns with City’s historical approach of avoiding overinflated transfers, as seen in their previous decisions to step back from deals involving players like Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong. Instead, City are now focusing on alternative midfield targets, including Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders .

With City’s exit, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have emerged as the leading contenders for Wirtz’s signature. Liverpool’s interest has intensified, especially after Wirtz and his family reportedly visited the club for discussions. However, Liverpool would require assurances that Wirtz is willing to leave Germany before making a formal offer . Bayern Munich remains a strong candidate, although tensions between Wirtz’s representatives and the club have been reported .

Wirtz is under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2027, and the club is reportedly open to selling him abroad, which could favor Liverpool’s pursuit. As the summer transfer window approaches, the competition for Wirtz’s services is expected to intensify.