Bayer Leverkusen are ‘taking on the fight’ to keep Florian Wirtz, with Arsenal and Manchester City among those trying to lure him away.
That’s [according to Sport BILD](https://sportbild.bild.de/), who say Leverkusen are taking the fight to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Arsenal as they all position themselves for Leverkusen’s star man.
The newspaper reports that the four ‘international football giants’ are ‘luring’ the German star and so negotiations have started between Leverkusen and his entourage.
Wirtz’s father and advisor have been advertising themselves around of late, speaking to Bayern Munich and Manchester City and ‘emphasizing their interest’ in those clubs. Arsenal, it seems, are slightly below them in the pecking order.
Aware of this, Leverkusen have now started their own talks with the Wirtz family, hoping to tie him down beyond the end of his current deal in 2027.
The first talks about a contract extension have been held, not only with Wirtz’s father but also the player and his mother Karin Groß.
The plan is to extend the midfielder’s deal by another year but if that can’t be done, then the German champions would prefer to sell in 2025. Leverkusen could wait until after the 2026 World Cup but don’t want to risk the player being in his final year.
Leverkusen’s bosses are convinced they can keep their star and are willing to pay to ensure they do, keeping him away from Arsenal, Manchester City and the other big clubs who continue to circle.