Arsenal and Liverpool cannot be discounted from the race to sign Bayern Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
Manchester City are pushing hard to sign Wirtz this summer as a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne who has recently announced that he’ll be leaving the club.
De Bruyne could be heading for the MLS and Pep Guardiola will be wary of his side being left in a weaker position creatively.
Of course, Bayern Munich are also big players when it comes to Wirtz’s future – the German giants are also determined to sign the 21-year-old to pair him with Jamal Musiala.
But even if Man City and Bayern are favourites to land a deal, clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea can’t be discounted just yet.
Florian Wirtz’s future at Bayer Leverkusen is still undecided
That being said, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has shed some more light on Wirtz’s situation, sharing what he’s been told about an offer arriving from one of City’s Premier League rivals.
Answering a common question about the German’s future, Bailey said: “A lot of people ask about Wirtz and why it seems it is only Bayern Munich and Man City that are pushing hard to sign him.
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“It is true they are at the front of the queue, if he decides to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer and that ‘if’ remains the key – as we have reported in the last few weeks, we don’t know what he is thinking – does he sign a new deal and stay for another 12-months, or leave?
“Bayern have had a wonderful 2025 when it comes to their playing staff – their chiefs Max Eberl and Christoph Freund have managed to seal new deals for Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala, when at the turn of the year – the future of all three looked in some doubt.
“Eberl and Freund received major criticism last summer when their hunt for a new head coach saw them scrambling around before they finally landed in Vincent Kompany, who has proved a success.
“Now they have the full trust at the club and they are working hard on this summer’s potential arrivals and the player at he top of their list is Wirtz – he is widely regarded as the best player for his age in Europe, he really is up there with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Pedri, Gavi etc when it comes to talent.
“Man City love him, as we know, and they are doing everything they can to persuade.
“And whilst Bayern and City have done the most work to this point, I am told not to totally discount others, especially in just making an offer – if you are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or even Real Madrid – who all like him – why wouldn’t you at least have the conversation?”
Jamal Musiala has given his Florian Wirtz verdict
As mentioned, TBR recently shared that Wirtz is considering leaving Bayer Leverkusen this summer, a move that would surely ensue a transfer battle of the ages.
Wirtz has been valued at around £87m in the past and Xabi Alonso has helped the youngster flourish into one of the brightest talents in Europe.
Of course, should City get their way and win the race for Wirtz this summer or next then the playmaker would somewhat come in to compete with Phil Foden.
Foden is currently City’s most obvious De Bruyne replacement, even if the England international is enduring an indifferent season.
But interestingly, Musiala thinks Wirtz is better than Foden, perhaps explaining the strength of City’s interest.
