Manchester City have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, with the total cost of a potential deal deemed too high.
Wirtz has enjoyed a standout season, scoring 16 goals and registering 15 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. His form has attracted interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and City.
According to the BBC, the full cost of signing the 22-year-old could reach €300 million, including transfer fees and wages.
“City are concerned the cost of the deal is over-inflated,” the report stated, despite acknowledging Wirtz’s status as one of Europe’s top young talents.
Liverpool may now hold an advantage, having already made contact with the player’s representatives. The Reds have also triggered the £30 million release clause for Wirtz’s teammate Jeremie Frimpong‘s , with his arrival expected to be confirmed shortly.
With City stepping back, Liverpool manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes could push ahead in their pursuit of Wirtz, especially after two relatively modest transfer windows since Slot took over in 2024.
City will continue searching for a creative midfielder, with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White emerging as a possible alternative. Pep Guardiola, who spent £180 million in January, is keen to refresh his squad ahead of the Club World Cup, following a heavy FA Cup final defeat.
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