Manchester City submit concrete offer to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz | OneFootball

Bayern Munich’s hopes of securing a deal for Florian Wirtz without too much complication have now been handed a major blow by Manchester City.

The four-in-a-row Premier League champions have long felt as though the 22-year-old attacking midfielder is the perfect candidate to replace Kevin De Bruyne – who will be leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer.

With the Belgian’s contract expiring at the end of June, City’s decision not to offer renewed terms has meant that the 33-year-old is open to joining a new club on a free transfer, with Napoli and The Chicago Fire among the most serious suitors.

However, the path to an able successor was thrown into doubt by German media over the course of the weekend and earlier this week after it was claimed that Bayern Munich had an agreement in place with Wirtz himself over a move either this summer or in 2026.

That development has seemingly not swayed Manchester City away from their hunt for the Germany international’s signature, and new reports have revealed that Etihad bosses have handed over a formal offer to Bayer Leverkusen.

That is according to the information of SPORT BILD’s Christian Falk, who reveals that Leverkusen have now received a ‘concrete’ offer from Manchester City for the potential transfer of in-demand attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

City boss Pep Guardiola is said to have already spoken with Wirtz himself ‘several times’ and the Catalan coach is clear that he wants the Germany international to succeed Kevin De Bruyne as his lead creative midfielder.

While Bayern Munich are said to be preparing an offer worth €100 million, they are yet to make formal contact with Leverkusen, who themselves have placed an eye-watering €150 million price tag on their star player.

From the side of Bayer Leverkusen, the report clarifies that the prospect of a contract extension has long since been abandoned and while Bayern Munich appeared to be ‘in the driving seat’ for his signature, Manchester City’s offer has opened up a ‘poker game’.

The report also makes a staggering claim regarding the idea of an agreement having been reached between Bayern Munich and Florian Wirtz’s father.

It is suggested that after reports of a Bayern agreement with Wirtz, Leverkusen executives were ‘completely surprised’ and immediately confronted the player’s father, Hans – who assured them he had not made a commitment and was willing to talk to other clubs.

It remains to be seen who else Manchester City could explore this summer in the event that they ultimately fail in their pursuit of Wirtz, with recent reports pointing in the direction of profiles at Nottingham Forest and Barcelona.

In the case of the former, the common belief is that Etihad Stadium officials will be the frontrunners for City Ground star Morgan Gibbs-White, although a £100 million valuation on the player from Forest could act as a stumbling block.

Recent reports from Spain have also claimed that City have an interest in Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, despite the versatile forward talent only joining the La Liga giants last summer and having overcome plenty of complications over registration with Hansi Flick’s squad.

Away from the creative roles and City are also believed to be interested in AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders – admired from within the Etihad Stadium as a direct result of the Netherlands international’s versatility in particular.