Wirtz £100m transfer: Is he right for new favourites Man City? Whisper+ verdict

Latest developments

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• Man City are the new favourites to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

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• A deal in the summer is expected to earn the Bundesliga side £100 million.

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• Real Madrid and Liverpool have also been in the market for the German star.

Whisper+ analysis

Authenticity (3/5): Source supposedly close to player

Manchester City have emerged as the new favourites to sign the sought-after German international Florian Wirtz in the summer, for a deal in the summer worth £100 million, beating Real Madrid and Liverpool to his signature.

caughtoffside.com have broken this news, claiming that their source has “a close understanding of the player’s preference” but don't give further details.

Value (4.5/5): Real prepared to go higher

It would be quite a coup for Man City to land Wirtz for £100 million, especially with the interest from some of the other richest clubs in the world. Currently, Wirtz is valued at €130 million, having played an integral role in Leverkusen's historic season under Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid, according to the same report, are prepared to go to £150 million, so City should not pop open the champagne just yet.

Suitability (5/5): Wirtz ideal for City's style

Still only 21, Wirtz has established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in the game today, who displayed his abilities on the world stage at UEFA Euro 2024 last summer.

His playmaking abilities, movement between the lines and delivery into the box would all be key for City, especially with Erling Haaland playing ahead of him.

Upgrade? (4/5): Time for an update to City's attack

At 33 and with injury problems of late, it cannot be too surprising to see Kevin De Bruyne's powers starting to wane. With his contract running down at the end of the season, and 18 months left on Bernardo Silva's deal, 2025 seems the perfect time for City to overhaul their attacking midfield options.

Logic (4/5): Time for a step up from Leverkusen

Turning 22 in May, Wirtz will not want to wait too much longer to walk away from Leverkusen and join one of football's giants.

City can offer him great wages and the chance to compete for domestic and European honours, though so can Real Madrid and Liverpool. There are no particular downsides to City, but Real Madrid might just edge them here, especially if Bayer boss Xabi Alonso takes over from Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.

Whisper+ verdict: 20.5/25

With at least one fresh face needed in the City attack, Wirtz seems to be the right man coming at the right time for City.

£100 million is still a huge figure, but that will feel like a bargain if they can seal the deal at that price and leave Real and the Reds wondering what might have been.