One thing I don’t like about Chelsea is that they’re good at highjacking player because they felt they’re rich’: Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola cries out as Pochettino make first move to highjack His top target by January
Chelsea is moving closer to securing the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, a player who has also drawn interest from Manchester City, as reported by SPORT in Spain.
The latest developments regarding Florian Wirtz, a target of Manchester City, are worth examining. Chelsea has reportedly intensified negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen regarding the potential acquisition of the German international.
Talks are progressing, and the report suggests that Chelsea’s strong relationship with Bayer Leverkusen, fostered by the £71 million signing of Kai Havertz in September 2020, is playing a pivotal role in these discussions.
This development follows a prior story from SPORT claiming that Manchester City is plotting a bid for Wirtz in 2024, as Pep Guardiola seeks to inject fresh creativity into the Etihad Stadium.
Bayer Leverkusen is expected to demand €80 million (£70 million) for the 20-year-old, a fee reflective of Wirtz’s impressive form this season. He has contributed five goals and eight assists in just 13 appearances for the club.
Should Chelsea succeed in securing Wirtz’s signature, it appears that Manchester City may need to consider alternative options. According to Christian Falk, the Head of Football at the German news outlet BILD, Guardiola is also interested in acquiring Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who operates in a similar No. 10 role behind the striker, much like Wirtz.
Given that both Wirtz and Musiala play similar positions, it seems unlikely that Guardiola would acquire both for the Etihad Stadium. Therefore, it is plausible that Manchester City will pursue either Musiala or Wirtz, rather than attempting to sign both players. BILD reports that Musiala is currently valued at £96 million, and adding this to Wirtz’s £70 million valuation would likely stretch Manchester City financially.
This situation warrants close monitoring as Guardiola seeks to secure a new No. 10 for Manchester City in 2024. The choice between Wirtz and Musiala will have a significant impact on the club’s future dynamics and squad composition.
