Man City get major Florian Wirtz boost in Bayern Munich transfer battle
Florian Wirtz had reportedly decided to move to Bayern Munich this summer, but his parents were in Manchester on Tuesday.
Manchester City remain in the hunt to sign Florian Wirtz after his parents flew to England for talks with the Blues. The Bayer Leverkusen star’s parents were in Manchester on Tuesday as they weigh up the best option for their son this summer.
Their trip to City will encourage Txiki Begiristain and Hugo Viana, who would like Wirtz to replace Kevin De Bruyne but had read reports recently that the player was set on Bayern Munich - either this summer or next. Pep Guardiola was not in Manchester for any meetings on Tuesday, although he will often phone potential signings to talk through how he sees them in the team.
The Bundesliga champions remain the biggest threat to City for Wirtz and Real Madrid - set to appoint Xabi Alonso as their coach - could also come into the mix, yet the talks in Manchester represent a major boost for the Blues following indications that the race was over. City will keep pushing hard to secure one of their priority targets for the summer.
An interview with Wirtz appeared this week in Sports Illustrated where the playmaker talked about the possibilities of his next move. While the 22-year-old gave nothing away about his future destination, there was encouragement to be had from all interested parties.
"I’m pretty lucky that I have so many excellent clubs right on my doorstep and that I can now play for one of the best clubs in Germany and Europe," he said. "I have a lot of respect for the lads here in Leverkusen who come from South America or Africa, for example, and leave their families and surroundings behind for their careers.
"It definitely appeals to me to leave my comfort zone at some point and experience something new. I know football locker rooms well enough and I’m convinced that I would quickly settle in wherever I go.”
City will hope that Ilkay Gundogan will be able to help Wirtz settle if he does move to City. Wirtz obviously would not be short of teammates from the German national team if he moved to Bayern, but knows Gundogan through that as well and the veteran midfielder predicts big things to come.
"They're very close to world class. Maybe they are not yet there but they could be the best in the world in a short amount of time," Gundogan said of Wirtz and Jamal Musiala earlier this year.
"I feel like it is just proving themselves a little bit more. They are very young. Jamal has done a bit more than Florian because he played a little more at that high level.
"When you want to be on top and admired as the world's best one day, it's necessary to win the Champions League and Jamal has already played a few years in the Champions League but hasn't won it yet.
"For Flo, it is the first season with Champions League with Leverkusen. To be there every single year, to try to get to the semis and final and win it at one point is unavoidable to be world class.
"Of course, they have the potential and the quality. I played with them for the last two years in the national team and both of them have everything and they prove it with their teams and the national team.
"They are both great guys and great characters so they will be there at one point."
Manchester City have released their home kit for next season - featuring the reimagining of the sash running through their shirt. For the first time ever, the famous City blue will have a white sash through it as Puma put a new twist on an old favourite.
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