According to Sport Bild, Arsenal is now trying to sign Florian Wirtz, a rising star for Bayer Leverkusen. iMiaSanMia has more details.
Real Madrid is naturally interested in the German midfielder, who is only 21 years old but is already one of the most exciting prospects in world football.
On the other hand, Arsenal has been keeping an eye on Wirtz for a while now. They saw him play for DC Koln when he was still a young player.
Wirtz is under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2027, but he is said to have clear ideas about what he wants to do next.
When he decides to leave the Bundesliga team, he wants to play for and win a Champions League title with a different team.
He also wants to play for a team that will let him fight for individual awards like the Ballon d’Or. Bayer Leverkusen has set a very high price of €150 million for Wirtz because they know how good he can be.
Real Madrid is still in first place.
Arsenal have been tracking Florian Wirtz for a long time. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
At the moment, it seems unlikely that Wirtz will leave Leverkusen anytime soon. However, Real Madrid are considered strong favourites to eventually secure the midfielder’s services.
One of the key reasons for this is the possibility of Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen’s current manager, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid once the Italian coach departs.
Wirtz has worked closely with Alonso, and the former midfielder’s influence could play a major role in any potential transfer.
While the next summer transfer window is still a while away, Real Madrid are currently seen as the frontrunners in the pursuit of Wirtz. They face stiff competition, not just from Arsenal, but also from Bayern Munich and other elite European clubs.
However, given Real Madrid’s stature and potential future managerial situation, they remain in a strong position to land Wirtz if and when he decides to move.