Manchester City are reportedly making a late push to hijack Liverpool’s pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s star midfielder, Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old German international has been at the center of a high-stakes transfer saga, with Liverpool seemingly leading the race after agreeing to personal terms with Wirtz on a five-year deal. However, City’s renewed interest could complicate matters for the Merseyside club.
Liverpool’s initial bid of £86 million plus add-ons was rejected by Leverkusen, who are holding out for a fee closer to £126 million. The Reds are keen to finalize the deal before Wirtz departs for international duty with Germany ahead of the Nations League semi-final against Portugal.
Manchester City, on the other hand, view Wirtz as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne, whose future at the Etihad remains uncertain. City are reportedly prepared to meet Leverkusen’s valuation and have even considered including players like Oscar Bobb or James McAtee in a swap deal to sweeten the offer.
Despite City’s interest, Wirtz appears to favor a move to Liverpool, attracted by the promise of a central attacking role under new manager Arne Slot. This assurance contrasts with the uncertainty he faced at Bayern Munich, where conflicting messages from executives and coach Vincent Kompany led him to rule out a move to the Bundesliga giants.
As the transfer window heats up, the battle for Wirtz’s signature is intensifying. While Liverpool remain in pole position, Manchester City’s late maneuvering could yet turn the tide in their favor. The coming days will be crucial in determining where one of Europe’s brightest talents will ply his trade next season.