Reports indicate that Manchester City have withdrawn from the competition to sign Florian Wirtz.
City had reportedly considered the German midfielder as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne, who is anticipated to leave the Etihad Stadium upon his contract expiry this summer.
However, Pep Guardiola`s team is said to have ended their pursuit of the Bayer Leverkusen star after learning that a potential transfer could total an enormous £252 million.
This figure, which is equivalent to 300 million euros, is reported to include both the transfer fee and the player`s wages, making it potentially the largest deal in City`s history.
Wirtz, aged 22, has been a standout player for Xabi Alonso`s side this season, contributing 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions. He is widely recognised as one of the top emerging talents in European football.
According to the BBC, City are reportedly concerned that the asking price for the deal is “over-inflated” and therefore doesn`t represent good value for money.
The decision by the recent FA Cup finalists to withdraw from the race reportedly leaves Premier League champions Liverpool and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich as the leading clubs interested in acquiring Wirtz.
Manchester City have a history of stepping away from transfer negotiations when they feel the cost is above market value.
They famously withdrew from the race to sign England captain Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, ultimately signing Erling Haaland instead.
City also pursued midfielders such as Jorginho, Fred, and Frenkie de Jong before eventually signing Ballon d`Or winner Rodri in 2019.
Similarly, Ruben Dias was signed instead of potential targets like Harry Maguire or Kalidou Koulibaly.
Regarding potential alternatives to Wirtz, both Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa and Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan have been mentioned in connection with City.
Liverpool`s reported interest in Wirtz comes alongside speculation linking them with moves for his Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong and Bournemouth`s Milos Kerkez, potentially suggesting an overhaul of their full-back positions.
