Manchester City have identified Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz as a potential Riyad Mahrez replacement it has been reported.
Steve Kay of Football Transfers has reported that the young German midfielder is on Manchester City’s list of targets this window. Kay adds that Pep Guardiola is a known admirer of the German midfielder.
It has already been a busy window for Bayer Leverkusen. They’ve sold star winger Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa. With that being the case any potential move from the treble winners for Florian Wirtz wouldn’t come cheap.
The young midfielder is one of German football’s brightest young talents. Playing primarily as a number 10 he burst onto the scene with Bayer Leverkusen during the 2019/20 season. He has gone on to make 103 appearances for the German club, contributing 23 goals and 30 assists in his time with the club.
He suffered a significant knee injury in March 2022 against Cologne. His subsequent recovery from an ACL injury limited the talented youngster to 17 appearances last season for Leverkusen. He added a goal and 6 assists on his return from injury.
Wirtz has been compared to Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne. With his eye for a pass and technical ability, he may also be a long-term replacement for the City star if a move did eventuate.
At this stage, there are only tentative links to the young German star. Whether or not they turn into something more concrete is a story to watch for as the Premier League champions look to add to their squad.
More must-reads: