SHOCK Wirtz transfer close? Man City target sending 'bad signals'

Tom Weber

Updated: 9 Apr 2025 11:37 CDT
4 min read

Pep Guardiola, Florian Wirtz, Man City — © IMAGO

Florian Wirtz sent a 'bad signal' to Bayer Leverkusen over his contract situation during his injury absence, according to German media.

The German wonderkid is still no closer to deciding his future than he was five weeks ago when he suffered an ankle injury. Wirtz is now set to return to the pitch a week ahead of schedule and is expected to feature in Leverkusen's matchday squad against Union Berlin this weekend.

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STATS

Florian Wirtz

AM (C)

Bayer 04

Florian Wirtz

AM (C)

Bayer 04

39

Games
15

Goals
13

Assists

According to BILD, Leverkusen hoped that Wirtz would use his time on the treatment table to make a decision on his future. The reigning Bundesliga champions are desperate to tie him down to a new contract and are prepared to make significant concessions.

Wirtz would be in line for a significant pay rise and would be given a €100 million release clause, which would allow him to leave the club on his own terms in 2026.

However, contrary to Leverkusen's expectations and hopes, Wirtz did not arrive at a conclusion during his injury absence, and the report states that this is a 'bad signal' for a potential contract extension.

Wirtz to leave this summer?

Leverkusen are not under any immediate threat of losing Wirtz as his current deal still runs until 2027, but they want an answer from his by the summer.

Should he indeed decide to reject their contract offer, they would make him available for transfer for a fee in the region of €150 million, which is the ideal scenario for his suitors - of which there are many.

Real Madrid are interested in the 21-year-old and could pull off a double swoop for Wirtz and his coach Xabi Alonso, with Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti increasingly at risk of the sack.

Bayern have been courting the wonderkid since around 2020 and are determined to do whatever it takes to bring him to Munich. He is their dream target and the Munich outfit's club bosses have made no secret of the fact that they will try to sign him this summer.

Finally, Man City have a concrete interest in Wirtz. Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of the German and views him as an ideal replacement for departing club legend Kevin de Bruyne.

However, FootballTransfers revealed on Tuesday that Man City have major concerns over his hefty price tag. They feel as though they can't spend €150m on a single player as they are looking to bring in up to five high-profile reinforcements this summer.