Manchester City missed out on the Premier League title to Liverpool this season, and the Reds could now beat the Citizens to a transfer target as well.
Pep Guardiola will be eager for Hugo Viana – the new Director of Football at the Etihad Stadium – to bolster his squad quite significantly this summer, as Manchester City fail to win any silverware for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.
UEFA Champions League football is not even a guarantee for the Citizens next season either at this moment in time.
Now, Manchester City have opted to let Liverpool have one less competitor in the race to sign Florian Wirtz as those at the Etihad Stadium make a tough call.
Manchester City abandon Florian Wirtz pursuit
As we approach the summer transfer window, much has been written about the Germany international.
More Man City News
Guardiola was said to be desperately keen on signing Wirtz, and views the Bayer Leverkusen No.10 as a primary target as Kevin De Bruyne prepares to leave this summer.
Now, however – according to the BBC – Manchester City have opted to look elsewhere, concerned by just how expensive this deal could actually end up being.
This goal needs to be spoken about more. 😮💨✨#B04SCF | #Bayer04 #Werkself #Wirtz pic.twitter.com/KKi9yVn7cp
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) October 31, 2023
Sami Mokbel writes that decision makers at the Etihad Stadium fear Wirtz – who Real Madrid also like – could end up costing as much as €300m (£252m) when both the transfer fee and salary is taken into account, which would make it the most lucrative deal in club history for Manchester City.
The BBC add that Nottingham Forest No.10 Morgan Gibbs-White remains a target, and is viewed as a more realistic arrival than the German wonderkid.
Liverpool have made a bid for Florian Wirtz
Kicker in Germany share their own details regarding this developing saga.
Florian Wirtz completed more take-ons than any other player in the Bundesliga this season. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/U9CfOlhLfe
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 19, 2025
The German news outlet write that Liverpool have submitted a bid for the 22-year-old, as have Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Kicker posted this information three hours ago – around 12pm in the United Kingdom – whereas the BBC’s story emerged just 30 minutes ago, which means it is safe to assume Manchester City have withdrawn their offer, having learned from Bayer Leverkusen just how costly the total agreement could end up being.