Man City close in on Premier League’s most expensive EVER transfer as Florian Wirtz jets in for talks
PEP GUARDIOLA has held talks with Florian Wirtz as Manchester City stepped up their bid to land the German star in a record £126million deal. The Bayer Leverkusen forward, 22, jetted in to Blackpool from Maastricht in Holland as City look to beat Bayern Munich to his signature. BildFlorian Wirtz’s dad was met by a reporter after the meeting in Manchester[/caption] BildFlorian Wirtz’s mother spotted at a Dutch airport[/caption] GETTYManchester City are hot on the heels of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz[/caption] GETTYCity have held talks with the 22-year-old over a summer move to the Etihad[/caption] Wirtz, one of the hottest properties in Europe, travelled with his agent father to discuss a potential move to the Etihad before returning home last night. Boss Guardiola has identified Wirtz as his No 1 target as he looks to rebuild his City squad and replace club legend Kevin De Bruyne, 33. who will leave at the end of his contract in June. City’s offer would smash the British transfer record, which currently stands at £115m which Chelsea paid Brighton to sign midfielder Moises Caicedo in 2023. Wirtz, his father Hans and mother Karin took a private jet at 10am on Tuesday from Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the Netherlands to Blackpool, according to German newspaper Bild. They were then driven to Manchester to meet with Guardiola, before flying back at 4:40pm. Apparently, the small airport behind the German-Dutch border had been chosen to avoid attracting attention. However Bild were able to get photos of Wirtz’s mum and dad at the Dutch airport as they returned to their car. A reporter approached Wirtz’s father Hans who shook his hand but chose to remain silent. Wirtz has spoken to Guardiola previously but the attacker is yet to make a final decision on his future with two years still left on his current Leverkusen deal. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS But his club would rather sell to City than their Bundesliga rivals. He only last month returned from a knee injury, which saw him miss the Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern, but has still scored 16 goals and added 15 assists in 44 games this season. Bayern, who won the Bundesliga this term after losing out to Leverkusen last season, are offering £84m for Wirtz. The German was vital to Leverkusen’s unbeaten title triumph under Xabi Alonso in 2023-24. City have also approached AC Milan to sign Tijjani Reijnders, 26, although they are yet to submit a bid. Milan want around £60m for the Dutch midfielder, which would make him their biggest sale in their history. The two clubs still have a negotiation to complete over right-back Kyle Walker, 34, who is on loan at the Serie A outfit from City for the rest of the season. City are also interested in Nottingham Forest star Morgan-Gibbs White, 25. However, Newcastle will fight off any City attempt to sign England star Tino Livramento. The 22-year-old has shone since stepping up to become Toon’s first-choice right-back ahead of Kieran Trippier. Champions League chasing Newcastle do not need to sell any big names. Boss Eddie Howe said: “The summer window will be a big one for us.” AFPFlorian Wirtz was one of Bayer Leverkusen’s star performers last season[/caption]
PEP GUARDIOLA has held talks with Florian Wirtz as Manchester City stepped up their bid to land the German star in a record £126million deal.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward, 22, jetted in to Blackpool from Maastricht in Holland as City look to beat Bayern Munich to his signature.
Wirtz, one of the hottest properties in Europe, travelled with his agent father to discuss a potential move to the Etihad before returning home last night.
Boss Guardiola has identified Wirtz as his No 1 target as he looks to rebuild his City squad and replace club legend Kevin De Bruyne, 33. who will leave at the end of his contract in June.
City’s offer would smash the British transfer record, which currently stands at £115m which Chelsea paid Brighton to sign midfielder Moises Caicedo in 2023.
Wirtz, his father Hans and mother Karin took a private jet at 10am on Tuesday from Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the Netherlands to Blackpool, according to German newspaper Bild.
They were then driven to Manchester to meet with Guardiola, before flying back at 4:40pm.
Apparently, the small airport behind the German-Dutch border had been chosen to avoid attracting attention.
However Bild were able to get photos of Wirtz’s mum and dad at the Dutch airport as they returned to their car.
A reporter approached Wirtz’s father Hans who shook his hand but chose to remain silent.
Wirtz has spoken to Guardiola previously but the attacker is yet to make a final decision on his future with two years still left on his current Leverkusen deal.
But his club would rather sell to City than their Bundesliga rivals.
He only last month returned from a knee injury, which saw him miss the Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern, but has still scored 16 goals and added 15 assists in 44 games this season.
Bayern, who won the Bundesliga this term after losing out to Leverkusen last season, are offering £84m for Wirtz.
The German was vital to Leverkusen’s unbeaten title triumph under Xabi Alonso in 2023-24.
City have also approached AC Milan to sign Tijjani Reijnders, 26, although they are yet to submit a bid.
Milan want around £60m for the Dutch midfielder, which would make him their biggest sale in their history.
The two clubs still have a negotiation to complete over right-back Kyle Walker, 34, who is on loan at the Serie A outfit from City for the rest of the season.
City are also interested in Nottingham Forest star Morgan-Gibbs White, 25.
However, Newcastle will fight off any City attempt to sign England star Tino Livramento.
The 22-year-old has shone since stepping up to become Toon’s first-choice right-back ahead of Kieran Trippier.
Champions League chasing Newcastle do not need to sell any big names.
Boss Eddie Howe said: “The summer window will be a big one for us.”
