Wirtz battle heats up as Man Utd enter race

Updated: 18 Oct 2024 18:55 BST
4 min read

The transfer battle to sign Florian Wirtz is heating up, with Manchester United now also among his suitors, according to German media.

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The Bayer Leverkusen youngster is primed to be one of the biggest names to take centre stage during the 2025 summer transfer window. Industry sources fully expect the 21-year-old to be on the move next year, though Bayer 04 still harbour hopes of getting him to sign a new contract.

Wirtz is not pushing for a move and communication between his camp, particularly his father and agent, and Leverkusen is said to be open and respectful. The player's family is in no rush to get him out of the club but there is an acceptance that interested sides will make tempting offers next summer.

Sky Germany has now revealed the state of play regarding Wirtz's future, providing surprising updates on some of his suitors and making it clear that this transfer saga will be anything but a straightforward affair.

Wirtz's 2025 transfer: The state of play

Writing on X, reporter Florian Plettenberg has reiterated that Bayern Munich view Wirtz as their No.1 target for the summer of 2025. The Bavarians, who have been courting him since at least 2020, have held initial talks with his camp and "are ready to spend a massive transfer fee."

However, the major problem that they will face is...Leverkusen. In the summer, the relationship between the two clubs deteriorated due to the Jonathan Tah transfer saga and Bayer 04 are determined to make life as difficult as possible for Bayern.

Leverkusen have no intention to do business with their Bundesliga rivals and, if Wirtz makes it clear he wants to leave, will try to push through a move abroad even if the player's preference is said to be a move to Munich before later taking the next step outside of Germany.

With Bayern out of the picture as far as Leverkusen are concerned, the side showing the "most serious interest" is Man City. However, they are far from the only English club, with Arsenal, Liverpool and now even Man Utd named as admirers.

As for Real Madrid, head coach Xabi Alonso's potential next club, Plettenberg intriguingly insists that Leverkusen believe that a move next summer is "unrealistic."