Manchester City identify 21-year-old Bundesliga playmaker as Kevin De Bruyne successor

Redaction Simon Brett with Freddie Pye
Published on 2024-05-15 16:00:00

Manchester City is reportedly looking at Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as a potential long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne, whose future at the club remains uncertain. De Bruyne has had a remarkable impact on the team since returning from injury, with six goals and 18 assists in 24 appearances this season. However, his contract expires in 2025 and there are no talks of renewal, leading to speculation about his future.

Clubs like Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid, and now Manchester City are monitoring Wirtz, but Leverkusen is not willing to sell the German star before 2024/25. City is considering a bid of €150 million for Wirtz as a potential replacement for De Bruyne. Meanwhile, De Bruyne is also attracting interest from clubs in the Saudi Arabian Pro League and Major League Soccer, with potential transfer fees exceeding €100 million.

Regardless of De Bruyne’s future, Manchester City is planning to invest in their midfield in the summer, with players like Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes on their radar. The club is preparing for a possible exit of De Bruyne by identifying young talents like Wirtz who could fill his shoes in the future.

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