Manchester City are reportedly set to miss out on signing their top summer transfer target.
Despite reaching the final of the FA Cup and being just three points behind second placed Arsenal in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side have fell considerably short of their own high standards this season.
A nine game run in the Christmas period saw the club secure just a single league win, marking the worst spell of Guardiola’s tenure at the club thus far.
Following years of inactivity in the January window, City were decisive in looking to bolster their ranks this year, bringing in the likes of Aboukir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis for considerable fees.
With Kevin De Bruyne leaving the club this summer, Guardiola has been preparing another swoop into the market to strengthen his side and had reportedly earmarked Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz as his top target this summer.
Wirtz has once again been key for Xabi Alonso’s side this season and the 22-year-old has attracted interest from several of Europe’s top clubs.
Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to miss out on signing his top transfer target this summer
Reports from Germany claim Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has agreed to join Bayern Munich
Wirtz is said to have been viewed as a potential replacement for the departing Kevin De Bruyne
However, according to German journalist Christian Falk, Wirtz is set to forgo a move to the Premier League in favour of joining recently-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
The report states that Wirtz has agreed a move to the Bavarian giants, with Bayern prepared to offer €100million (£84.7m) to bring him to the Allianz Arena.
If Leverkusen opt not to sell their prize asset this summer however, Bayern are reportedly ready to wait until the summer of 2026 to make a move for the Germany international.
Despite prior reports stating Wirtz still has three years remaining on his current deal at Leverkusen, Falk added the midfielder’s contract is set to expire in 2027.
With City set to miss out on Wirtz as a creative successor to De Bruyne, Nottingham Forest talisman Morgan Gibbs-White has been touted as a potential target for the club.
The two-cap England international has been integral to Forest’s success this season, netting five Premier League goals and registering seven assists for Nuno Espirito Santo’s Europe-chasing side.
