Bayer Leverkusen will not go down without a fight in the battle with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid for the services of Florian Wirtz.
According to a report by Sport BILD, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid are keen on signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in the 2025 summer transfer window. However, the Bundesliga giants are ready to take the fight to the European bigwigs for the 21-year-old in-demand playmaker.
The rise and rise of Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz has gone from strength to strength since joining Bayer Leverkusen from FC Koln in January 2020. The highly-rated playmaker took no time to break into the first-team squad at the BayArena, quickly progressing through the ranks before making his first-team bow towards the end of the 2019/20 season.
Since then, Wirtz’s stock has skyrocketed, and he has become a highly sought-after player in the market. The 21-year-old has turned out over 150 times thus far for Bayer Leverkusen while chipping in with 50 goals and 54 assists. The youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
A man in demand
Wirtz has been on Arsenal’s radar for a long time. The Gunners are scouring the market for a versatile midfielder who can bolster their creative options next season. While the German international can be an alternative to Martin Odegaard, he can also play a deeper role and pull the strings.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s interest in Florian Wirtz is understandable. The Premier League champions are scouring the market for a creative midfielder amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Kevin De Bruyne. The veteran Belgian playmaker is approaching the twilight of his career, making Wirtz a viable target.
As for Real Madrid, Toni Kroos has left a gaping hole in the midfield department since calling time on his glittering career. In addition, Luka Modric is in the twilight of his career. So, Wirtz is an option worth considering for Real Madrid. However, Bayer Leverkusen will take the fight to the European bigwigs for his signature.
The Bundesliga champions want to tie the German international to a new contract that takes him beyond his current terms. However, turning down Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid for a second successive summer transfer window might be unlikely.