'Florian Wirtz to Man City is happening' after parents reveal – fans wowed

Manchester City have struck fear into the hearts of Premier League and European clubs' fans as they edge closer to signing Florian Wirtz.

Wirtz has emerged as a top target for Man City this summer as they prepare for farewell Kevin De Bruyne after 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, with the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker seen as a natural successor.

Pep Guardiola's rebuild of his trophy-laden City squad got underway in January with the acquisitons of Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush and others in the January window, and further changes are on the way.

Both Wirtz and Nottingham Forest number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White are high on Guardiola's shortlist of possible De Bruyne replacements, but it's the former who City already seem to be in active pursuit of.

Man City meet Wirtz's parents as transfer edges closer

Wirtz has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid ahead of the summer, but Stefan Borson told Football Insider that his former employers City are "well placed" to complete a deal for him.

The 22-year-old is likely to cost City in the region of £125million, but both parties are clearly keen for the move to happen after Wirtz's parents flew into Manchester on Tuesday for discussions with City officials.

The Telegraph reported on 13 May that Hans and Karin Wirtz, who represent the player, made a "whistle-stop trip" to Manchester via Blackpool, but made no comment upon their return to Maastricht Airport.

Wirtz's parents are unlikely to have met Guardiola due to the City boss being away from Manchester at present, but the pair were " travelling on transfer business" amid a split over where their son's next move should take him.

'Impossible to compete' – fans react to Man City developments

The Premier League would certainly be a better place with a player of Wirtz's talents as part of it, and Forest fans would certainly be relieved if City signed the German instead of Gibbs-White this summer.

However, many of the Citizens' closer rivals didn't look forward to the prospect of Wirtz as part of Pep Guardiola's side, particularly Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool fans ahead of next season's clashes.

With Tijjani Reijnders also linked with a move to the Etihad, a United fan argued that "you simply can't compete" with City, while a Liverpool supporter begged Arne Slot to show that the Reds are a "serious club" by responding with a statement transfer of their own.