Man City now willing to include two players in bid to sign £100m player after talks held at meeting
As Manchester City prepare for a major squad overhaul this summer, several players could be heading for the exit—and two of them may be used to land one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.
City are now willing to include James McAtee and Stefan Ortega in a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, following talks held at the Etihad Campus earlier this week.
Major Summer Ahead at City
With Kevin De Bruyne announcing he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer, City are bracing for significant changes. Ilkay Gundogan and Scott Carson are also out of contract and could depart, while Jack Grealish is reportedly up for sale—with AC Milan linked in a potential £33m move. City are expected to incur a major financial loss after spending £100m to sign him in 2021.
McAtee & Ortega Offered in Wirtz Deal
According to The Mirror, Manchester City have held transfer talks with Bayer Leverkusen, who are showing strong interest in both McAtee and Ortega. The Premier League champions are open to including the pair as part of a package to sign Wirtz, who is valued at £100m.
City reportedly rate Ortega at £15m and McAtee at £25m—meaning they could potentially acquire Wirtz for a reduced cash sum of around £60m, should Leverkusen accept both players in the deal.
Bayer Leverkusen Keen on McAtee
Leverkusen’s admiration for McAtee isn’t new. The German champions made an approach for the England U21 international back in January, though the offer amount was not disclosed.
Given McAtee plays in a similar attacking midfield role to Wirtz, and with Ortega also on offer, Xabi Alonso’s side may view this as a smart player-plus-cash solution as they anticipate losing their star man.
Bayern Munich Still in the Race
Leverkusen’s domestic rivals Bayern Munich are also interested in Wirtz, but The Mirror notes that Leverkusen would prefer to sell the Germany international to a club outside the Bundesliga, making Manchester City’s offer even more appealing.
