The race to sign Florian Wirtz is heating up. On Tuesday, the Bayer Leverkusen star’s parents made a quiet but telling visit to Manchester for direct talks with City officials—fuel to the fire in a transfer battle that now looks anything but speculative.
Pep Guardiola is said to have already spoken to Wirtz himself. According to sources close to the club, the City manager is personally involved in the push to bring the 21-year-old midfielder to the Etihad in a deal that could climb as high as £126 million.
“There’s a lot of interest in Florian,” a senior figure close to Leverkusen told The Times. “He’s had an extraordinary season, and it’s no surprise Europe’s top clubs are circling.”
City, it seems, are moving fastest. The presence of Wirtz’s parents in Manchester has not gone unnoticed. Though neither the club nor the player’s camp have officially commented, insiders suggest the meeting was more than a courtesy—it was groundwork.
Wirtz, pivotal to Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title win this season, has become one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe. His creativity, composure and ability to dictate tempo have drawn comparisons to some of Germany’s greats.
“He’s the best we’ve had come through since Ballack,” former German international Stefan Effenberg told Bild recently. “If he keeps progressing like this, he’ll dominate the next decade.”
Guardiola appears to agree. With Kevin De Bruyne nearing the twilight of his career and Bernardo Silva regularly linked with moves away, City are planning ahead. Whether Wirtz becomes the next marquee name in Manchester depends on what happens in the coming weeks.
Arsenal Face Costly Fight for Gyokeres
Meanwhile, in North London, Arsenal’s hunt for a proven striker continues to gather pace. Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is high on their shortlist—but he won’t come cheap.
The Sweden international, who has 43 goals this season, would command wages in excess of £200,000 a week, according to the Daily Mirror. That would make him one of Arsenal’s top earners.
“Arsenal need a forward who can score and hold up play,” said Sky Sports pundit Kaveh Solhekol. “They haven’t had that focal point in years. Gyokeres ticks a lot of boxes.”
But competition is fierce. Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak are also on Mikel Arteta’s radar. Sources say Arsenal are prepared to spend—but only if the right deal is on the table.
United Cancel Awards, Stick with Amorim
Over at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s season has ended in disappointment—and introspection. The club has scrapped its traditional end-of-season awards dinner, citing the men’s team’s poor performance.
“There’s a sense of accountability,” said one club source. “It didn’t feel right to celebrate.”
Despite the underwhelming campaign, manager Ruben Amorim is expected to stay. The board believes he’s still the right man—even if United lose the upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham.
Amorim, for his part, remains focused. Reports this week revealed he personally bought Europa League final tickets for his staff, using his own money after budget cuts were introduced by new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
“I’ll take responsibility,” he told reporters after their final league match. “But we’re building something. That takes time.”
Elsewhere Around the League
- Liverpool are monitoring Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong, with a potential move if Trent Alexander-Arnold shifts into midfield.
- Manchester United scouts watched Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. debut for Portugal U15s—suggesting they’re keeping one eye firmly on the future.
- Nottingham Forest are eyeing five summer signings to bolster their return to European competition, with Liam Delap and James McAtee among targets.
- Everton Women will play home matches at Goodison Park next season, solidifying their presence at the iconic stadium.
As the summer window approaches, the Premier League’s elite are already making moves. For Manchester City, that may begin with a bold step into the future—by landing Florian Wirtz.
