TEAMtalk can reveal that Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz is Manchester City’s top target for the upcoming summer transfer window – but they will have to fork out a near-club record fee to sign him.

Amid uncertainty over whether or not this will be Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge of the Etihad, with the Spaniard’s contract expiring in mid-2025, the reigning Premier League champions are looking to refresh their team.

Even if he does not extend his stay there, Man City are still very likely to move forward with trying to sign the 21-year-old Germany international.

Wirtz is also admired by Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, with our sources confirming that all three clubs have made contact with the player’s representatives.

It is understood that although City – whose current record transfer purchase was £100m (€117m, $130m) spent on Jack Grealish – are certainly in the race to sign the ace from Leverkusen, the German giants, Bayern, will pose the biggest challenge to them. regarding a transfer battle.

Now, sources have revealed to TEAMtalk that a bid of at least £90 million (€107.2, $117 million) will be needed for Leverkusen to even consider selling Wirtz next summer. He is under contract until 2027, so the German side is in a strong position to negotiate.

City are the team most likely to pay such a fee for a player widely regarded as one of football’s best young talents.

One thing that could throw a spanner in the works, however, would be Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso moving to Real Madrid. He is set to take up that position when Carlo Ancelotti eventually steps down and if Alonso is heading to Los Blancos, he would like to try and bring Wirtz to the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Leverkusen plays hard

The reigning Bundesliga champions clearly view Wirtz as a vital part of their recent success.

The German helped them win a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double last season and he also contributed numerous goals and assists.

Earlier this year, Wirtz said he was having a “great time” at Leverkusen but did not want to talk about his future until Euro 2024.

In February, his father and agent, Hans-Joachim Wirtz, said: “Florian has a contract at Leverkusen until 2027. That’s about how long he will stay at Leverkusen. There are no answers about what will happen when. We should wait for the next two years and then see what happens.

Additionally, reports in Germany suggest that Leverkusen are trying to extend Wirtz’s deal and that if he leaves, they want to keep him until at least 2026.

It remains to be seen whether they can keep it that long.

Latest Man City news: Will Grealish leave?

More than three years after breaking their transfer record by signing Grealish from Aston Villa, the Citizens reportedly ready to listen to offers for 29-year-old in 2025.

And entering Sporting director Hugo Viana has been tasked with recruiting a “big name” replacement for the England international.

City would also face competition from Bayern Munich and now Liverpool for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.

The 25-year-old, whose contract runs until 2027, has had a good start to the season and this has attracted interest from many big European teams.

Finally, City’s replacement goalkeeper Stefan Ortega reportedly considering a return to the Bundesliga after trying and failing to become first choice at the Etihad.

HEADLINES: Wirtz’s career so far…