Man City Eyes Florian Wirtz as Ideal Successor to KDB
Manchester City Eyes Florian Wirtz as Ideal Successor to Kevin De Bruyne
As Kevin De Bruyne approaches the conclusion of his illustrious decade-long tenure at Manchester City, the club is actively seeking a successor to fill the impending void in their midfield. Among the top candidates is Bayer Leverkusen’s standout playmaker, Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz, 21, has garnered significant attention following a stellar 2023-24 season, during which he played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga title run and DFB-Pokal triumph. His impressive tally of 11 goals and 12 assists in the league underscored his exceptional talent and versatility. The current season has seen him elevate his performance further, amassing 15 goals and 12 assists across all competitions. Manc
hester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, reportedly views Wirtz as the “dream replacement” for De Bruyne. However, securing the young German’s services is expected to be a formidable challenge. Bayer Leverkusen has set a substantial valuation of approximately €150 million (£125 million) for Wirtz, reflecting his burgeoning reputation and importance to the team.
The competition for Wirtz’s signature is intense, with European powerhouses such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also expressing keen interest. This sets the stage for a potential bidding war in the upcoming transfer window.
In parallel, Manchester City is exploring other midfield options, including Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, who has impressed with his performances in the Premier League. Additionally, internal solutions are being considered, with the possibility of repositioning Phil Foden to a more central role to mitigate De Bruyne’s departure. The Irish Sun
As the summer transfer window approaches, Manchester City’s pursuit of Wirtz will be closely monitored by fans and analysts alike, eager to see how the club navigates this critical transition in their midfield dynamics
