Manchester City are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, looking to beat Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to his signature.
This insight comes from former Man United, Tottenham, and Aston Villa scout Mick Brown, who told *Football Insider* that City have added Wirtz to their list of targets for next summer. Wirtz, 21, has caught the eye as a potential option for Pep Guardiola’s squad, especially with Kevin de Bruyne’s contract set to expire in 2025.
One of Europe’s rising stars, Wirtz had an impressive season last year, helping Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title, lift the DFB Pokal, and reach the Europa League final. His current contract with Leverkusen runs until 2027, but it’s widely expected he’ll make the jump to a top European club before then.
City are now considered strong contenders to secure Wirtz as they look to keep their squad competitive, particularly if De Bruyne leaves at the end of his contract. Brown, who spent over a decade scouting for Man United during one of the club’s most successful periods, believes Wirtz would be an ideal addition for City.
“He’s definitely on their list of targets, from what I’ve heard,” Brown told *Football Insider*. “Wirtz has built a solid reputation and done fantastically at Leverkusen. City will certainly be pushing to get a deal done.”
Brown added that while Wirtz isn’t a direct replacement for De Bruyne, he has the potential to bring the kind of quality City need. “Replacing a player like De Bruyne means accepting certain compromises because you can’t replace him like-for-like,” Brown explained. “City already have players who could step into that role, but the question is whether they’re at the level needed to keep winning in Europe. Wirtz is the type of player who can help them continue to compete at the top, especially at his age.”
“These are exactly the kinds of players City should target,” Brown added, “and as far as I’m aware, Wirtz is very much in line with their plans. He fits the profile perfectly.”
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