Manchester City is reportedly preparing to extend Pep Guardiola’s contract until 2026, according to several major media outlets. In line with this, the club is actively seeking to strengthen its squad to maintain its dominance and competitiveness in the coming seasons. One of their key targets is Bayer Leverkusen’s talented midfielder, Florian Wirtz.
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City currently leads the race to sign Wirtz, though competition is fierce, with Bayern Munich also expressing strong interest in the German international.
Liverpool and Real Madrid have also joined the pursuit, with both clubs reportedly eager to secure the player. Wirtz’s transfer fee is expected to be around €120 million, a figure that Real Madrid considers excessive, which has dampened their immediate pursuit. However, they are still keeping a close eye on his development.
Real Madrid views Wirtz as one of football’s brightest talents, with the potential to become a generational player. The club is carefully considering its options, sticking to its strategy of avoiding bidding wars. Instead, they prefer to target players who are eager to join their ranks, as seen in recent signings like Jude Bellingham and their ongoing interest in Alphonso Davies and Trent Alexander-Arnold, both of whom could be available on free transfers in 2025.
While Manchester City appears to be in a strong position to make a decisive move for Wirtz, Real Madrid’s long-term strategy ensures they remain a formidable contender in this transfer race.
