Manchester City hit with major summer transfer blow as agent rules out Bundesliga exit

Manchester City have suffered a summer transfer window setback in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

The 20-year-old was expected to feature highly amongst Manchester City’s list of potential summer transfer window targets, as Pep Guardiola plans to further bolster his squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

City are expected to be in the transfer market looking to add in numerous areas, with the potential for a new central midfielder, winger and goalkeeper, depending on potential summer departures from the Etihad Stadium.

Lucas Paqueta, Joshua Kimmich and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz have all been mooted as potential transfer targets, meanwhile Manchester City and Wolves could be set to do further business as Etihad chiefs admire Pedro Neto.

The Blues’ ambitions of signing Wirtz could have hit a major stumbling block however, with the player’s agent recently rejecting talk of a summer exit from the Bundesliga leaders.

Wirtz has helped Leverkusen open up a seven point lead over of Bayern Munich in the title race, with 15 direct goal involvements in 23 league appearances so far this season.

The German international also has six direct goal involvements in four UEFA Europa League showings, with Xabi Alonso’s side facing Qarabag in the last-16 next Thursday.

Wirtz could be set to stay at the German club beyond this summer, after Fabrizio Romano relayed quotes by the forward’s father and agent from outlet Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.

“We should wait for the next two years and then we’ll see where the path leads,” said Wirtz’s father.

“Florian has a contract in Leverkusen until 2027. That will also roughly be the amount of time he will spend in Leverkusen.”

Fellow Bundesliga and Germany star Kimmich is also a rumoured transfer target for Manchester City, with Guardiola still seeking to add to his midfield following the departure of former club captain Ilkay Gundogan last summer.

Kimmich has been unhappy at the Allianz Arena under manager Thomas Tuchel, and has so far rejected contract extension talks.