Man City Eye Florian Wirtz as Long-Term Kevin De Bruyne Replacement
Manchester City are ready to spend big once again, this time targeting Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz as the long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne.
With no plans to renew De Bruyne’s contract, City are prepared to smash the £100 million barrier to land the 21-year-old German international this summer. The move is expected to follow a similar strategy used to sign Jack Grealish in 2021, when the club activated his £100 million release clause at Aston Villa.
Newly appointed director of football Hugo Viana, set to replace Txiki Begiristain at the end of the season, will lead negotiations. City are confident Viana can secure Wirtz’s signature and are prepared to offer a significant salary increase from his current £73,000-a-week deal.
City have already spent over £170 million in the January window to revamp Pep Guardiola’s squad and are ready to continue their spending spree. Wirtz has emerged as their top priority as they look to the future.
Wirtz still has two years left on his Leverkusen contract, and the club has offered an extension until 2028. However, his representatives are pushing for an £85 million release clause to take effect after the World Cup next year, while Leverkusen want a clause closer to £125 million.
Sources suggest Leverkusen would prefer to sell to a non-Bundesliga club, increasing City’s chances. However, Wirtz may be reluctant to leave Germany in a World Cup year — though the chance to be groomed by Guardiola as De Bruyne’s successor could prove persuasive.
Despite his current ankle injury, Wirtz has had a stellar season, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists. In his absence, Leverkusen have faltered — crashing out of the Champions League against Bayern Munich and losing a shock German Cup semi-final to third-tier Arminia Bielefeld.
