Manchester City are now the clear frontrunners in the race for an "incredible" £100m star, who could be brought in as an alternative to Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz this summer, according to a report.
Man City back out of Wirtz race
BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel has now confirmed that Man City have pulled out of the race for Wirtz, given that the total cost to bring the German to the Etihad Stadium would be way too expensive.
As such, the path could now be clear for either Liverpool or Bayern Munich to sign the 22-year-old, and City have moved on to alternative targets, with a fresh report revealing they are well-positioned to win the race for a Premier League star.
Internacional's Wesley in action with Flamengo's Wesley Franca and Luiz Araujo Related
[Man City now ready to submit formal £29m proposal to sign "pacy" defender](https://www.footballfancast.com/man-city-now-ready-to-submit-formal-30m-proposal-to-sign-wesley-franca/ "Man City now ready to submit formal £29m proposal to sign "pacy" defender")
He's a rising star.
According to GiveMeSport, Man City are now the clear frontrunners in the race for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, but much like the deal for Wirtz, it will be expensive to bring the attacking midfielder to the Etihad Stadium, given a reported asking price of £100m.
The Englishman is being eyed as a replacement for the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne, who has recently hinted that he could remain in the Premier League beyond the end of the campaign, with the Belgian seemingly open to the idea of signing for another English club.
Gibbs-White is now the top target to replace De Bruyne, but it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola's side are willing to shell out the huge asking price.
Gibbs-White could be "incredible" De Bruyne heir
Replacing De Bruyne will be a daunting task for whichever attacking midfielder City choose to sign this summer, but there are plenty of signs that Wirtz could've been a suitable option, given the level of his performances for Leverkusen in the 2024-25 campaign.
Competition Appearances Goals Assists
Bundesliga 31 10 13
Champions League 9 6 1
DFB-Pokal 4 0 1
That's not to say the Forest midfielder isn't a solid alternative option, however, having already proven himself in the Premier League, picking up seven goals and ten assists for the Tricky Trees during their push for the Champions League this season.
morgan-gibbs-white-nottingham-forest
Not only are the England international's attacking numbers impressive, but he has also received high praise for his work-rate from ESPN pundit Janusz Michallik.
As such, there are signs Gibbs-White could be a fantastic heir to De Bruyne, despite arguably not being as flashy a signing as Wirtz, and Man City should look to wrap up a deal before interest in the 25-year-old increases.