Manchester City ‘informed’ of ‘serious pursuit’ from Real Madrid in summer 2025 transfer target | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City have now been made aware of a ‘serious pursuit’ growing from the part of Real Madrid in one of the club’s highest-profile transfer targets.

The latest information emerges as the Premier League champions brace themselves for back-to-back summers that could bring significant change to the club both in terms of on-field and off-the-field personnel.

Txiki Begiristain will be replaced in his role of Director of Football at the Etihad Stadium next summer, it has already been confirmed, with Sporting’s impressive operator Hugo Viana arriving as his successor.

The Portuguese official will oversee the next phase of Manchester City’s development, and will likely be tasked with the challenge of ensuring that the Etihad Stadium club remains at the forefront of European football beyond Pep Guardiola.

As part of that challenge, City will no doubt have to replace a number of ageing stars in their squad, and players that have been integral to the success of the last eight seasons in particular, including Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian is yet to make a decision on whether he wishes to remain at the club beyond the end of the current season with his contract expiring, however Manchester City already have their eye on a number of names as possible successors, including Florian Wirtz.

But according to the information of Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, La Liga giants Real Madrid are now ‘serious about pursuing’ Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, with Manchester City having now been informed of that push for the 21-year-old.

In further developments surrounding the player’s future, it is claimed that discussions between Real Madrid and Florian Wirtz’s camp have already taken place, but there have been no negotiations to date with Bayer Leverkusen themselves.

From the side of the Bundesliga champions, the report states they remain hopeful the Germany international will either stay or even extend his current contract, although a sale to Madrid would be ‘preferred’ as Leverkusen look to avoid a Bayern Munich deal.

It was claimed last month by the same journalist that Manchester City’s interest in the player was the most concrete, whilst from the perspective of Bayer Leverkusen, the Etihad club were the operation currently showing the most serious interest and making the strongest efforts.

It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid’s emergence in the race to sign Florian Wirtz will act as a push to urge Manchester City forward in their own efforts, sounding out those close to the player to gauge his interest in a Premier League switch.

Manchester City have already beaten away competition from Real Madrid this season, with Rodri being crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner ahead of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal in Paris.