One player stands head and shoulders above all others to replace Kevin De Bruyne | OneFootball

Whether or not Kevin De Bruyne leaves Manchester City this summer has no influence on City’s need to replace the Belgian international. As we have seen this season De Bruyne isn’t the player he once was. Age and injuries have taken a toll on the Manchester City legend. The world champions will need to replace Kevin De Bruyne and the creativity he provides Pep Guardiola’s side. That is no easy task. But when you look at who City could sign to fill De Bruyne’s shoes one player stands head and shoulders above all other options. That is Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz.

Florian Wirtz has the attributes Manchester City so desperately needs to replace Kevin De Bruyne and his skillset.

When you look at Manchester City’s play this season there has been a lack of creativity from midfield. With De Bruyne having battled injury and a loss of form and legs Pep Guardiola has struggled to replace what De Bruyne brought to his team when at his best. We have seen Phil Foden play as a number 10 this season. But Foden has had a poor season by his standards. Foden is also more of a goal-scorer than a creator of chances for Haaland and Manchester City’s wingers. Ilkay Gundogan also isn’t what he once was and Bernardo Silva isn’t a creative midfielder. Omar Marmoush isn’t a typical number 10, and based on his early performances for City, his best role may be on the left wing and drifting inside. So Manchester City’s need for a creative midfielder is obvious to see. That’s where Florian Wirtz comes into the equation.

When you look at the performance of Florian Wirtz over the past two seasons for Bayer Leverkusen his ability to score goals and create for his team jumps off the page. Last season he scored 18 goals and added 20 assists in 49 appearances as Xabi Alonso’s side won the league and cup double. So far this season he has scored 15 goals and added 13 assists in 39 appearances. Those numbers show the threat Wirtz brings in the final third for Bayer Leverkusen. He has also shown his prowess for Germany at international level.

Florian Wirtz can step into De Bruyne’s role but in a slightly different manner.

On paper, at least, the statistics of Florian Wirtz are comparable to Kevin De Bruyne. But he is a different type of player to the Belgian international. Wirtz is a technically gifted player and his ability to receive the ball under pressure and play and dribble in tight spaces stands out. In that regard, there are similarities to Phil Foden’s play with his close control and dribbling ability. In the final third Wirtz’s ability to pick out a pass or get into a dangerous position to score makes him one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in the game. When you see him play for Leverkusen you can see exactly how his skillset would fit into Pep Guardiola’s side. All of this shows exactly why he is the ideal player to replace Kevin De Bruyne.

The question is can Manchester City actually sign Florian Wirtz this summer?

Florian Wirtz looks to be a player who easily slot into Manchester City’s squad. The question is can they actually sign him this summer? That isn’t immediately apparent based on various reports and may become clear in the coming months. Tom Weber has relayed a report from BILD for Football Transfers that Florian Wirtz has doubts about extending his contract with Bayern Leverkusen. Furthermore, Weber adds that Wirtz has looked frustrated this season. This indicates that there is a possibility that Wirtz could be available to sign this summer.

Christian Falk has previously reported via his exclusive Daily Briefing column that Manchester City have an advantage in the race to sign Florian Wirtz this summer. Falk reports that Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have an interest in signing Wirtz but won’t move for the German international until the summer of 2026. In contrast to Falk’s report, Ben Jacobs has reported for TeamTalk that Bayern Munich are currently the favourites to sign Wirtz. Furthermore, Jacobs reports that Bayern Munich want to sign Wirtz this summer and Bayer Leverkusen want Wirtz to remain at the club for at least one more season. Which report is accurate will be proven in time.

Summary.

Based on what Florian Wirtz would add to Manchester City’s squad, City moving for the German international is a no-brainer. Of all the players who could be available to replace Kevin De Bruyne, Wirtz stands head and shoulders above all other alternatives. Whether or not City can sign him is a different question entirely. But you do get the sense that Manchester City will do all in their power to try and convince Wirtz that his future lies at the Etihad. If they can do that they will land almost the ideal player to help spearhead Manchester City’s rebuild. The possibility of Wirtz signing for Manchester City is a mouth-watering prospect to ponder and one that may be in play depending on which report you want to take stock in.