‘Man City well placed to agree headline signing as Real Madrid blown away’
Manchester City are in the running to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Premier League champions are looking to replace Kevin De Bruyne after it’s been confirmed he will leave the Etihad at the end of his contract on 30 June.
Football Insider revealed on 19 April Wirtz is Man City’s number one target to replace De Bruyne this summer.
German newspaper Bild reported on 16 April Pep Guardiola has already explained his plans to the 21-year-old personally.
It claims Man City could pay the required €150million (£129million) Bayer Leverkusen are demanding for the attacking midfielder this summer, with Bayern Munich also interested in securing his signature.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Wirtz’s high valuation could be an advantage for Guardiola’s side as it potentially rules out Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
The Germany international has registered 15 goals and 13 assists in 40 appearances this season.
Man City to get extra £25m after Kevin De Bruyne exit news
Borson revealed Man City could pay around £100million to sign Wirtz despite Bayer Leverkusen’s higher asking price.
He told Football Insider: “The impression I get is that they see Wirtz as that kind of headline signing to replace Kevin De Bruyne, and they recognise that to do that deal is going to cost what it costs.
“Arsenal’s deal for Rice cost what it cost, like all of those kinds of very major signings. He’s got a long contract at Leverkusen, so there’s no possibility that he’s going to be in some kind of Real Madrid-style free deal. If they want him, that’s the price.
“I think in some ways City might quite like the fact that that is the price because it pretty much rules out Real Madrid from the situation, and it possibly also rules out Bayern Munich as well.
“I think Bayern Munich would be the most natural place for him to go. We know Bayern do like to sign where they can the best player in Germany and I think they would like to do the deal, but they’re also trying to bring the wage bill down a little bit.
“They have spent heavily in the last couple of years, so in some ways, I think it could be an advantage for City. But I do think it might not be €150million, it could be €125million (£107million) or something. But I would think it’s a £100million deal.
“Then the salary, I think they’re probably looking at the salary side of things and going, De Bruyne is going, that will save somewhere in the order of £20-25million a year on wages.
“If we can buy a player who’s going to be the next headline player for the next five to 10 years, then that’s what we’ll do. They can certainly afford it on a PSR basis.”
| Appearances | 40 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 13 |
Man City to open Morgan Gibbs-White talks
Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is another name on Man City’s list of replacements for De Bruyne after his impressive season at the City Ground.
Man City are planning to open talks with Forest to assess what it would take to sign the 25-year-old this summer.
Guardiola is said to have been impressed by the England international’s performances this season, having registered five goals and nine assists in 31 appearances.
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