Arsenal have reportedly emerged as strong contenders in the race for highly coveted Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, positioning themselves alongside some of Europe’s elite clubs including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
According to SPORT BILD, Bayer Leverkusen have already opened discussions about a potential contract extension with Wirtz’s representatives. Notably, these talks have included Hans Wirtz, the 21-year-old’s father and advisor, as well as his mother, Karin Groß.
Leverkusen executives Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes have made their intentions clear: they want Wirtz to extend his stay for another year until 2028.
If Wirtz chooses not to extend, Leverkusen are prepared to sell him in 2025, with Carro stating that they would expect a fee of at least €150 million. Wirtz’s current valuation by Transfermarkt is €130 million, which reflects his impact on the pitch this season.
In 19 games, Wirtz has scored nine goals and provided four assists, strengthening his reputation as Germany’s most promising player.
For Arsenal, under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, bringing in a player like Wirtz would be a major coup and, at the time of writing, seems like a fanciful tale.
The competition for Wirtz will be fierce, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City also keen. However, Arsenal have been making big moves in recent transfer windows, bringing in players like Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
Adding Wirtz to their squad would be another statement of their intent to build a side capable of competing with Europe’s elite.
The key question now is whether Leverkusen can convince Wirtz to commit beyond 2027, or if a major transfer battle will be on the cards in 2025.
For Arsenal, the opportunity to sign one of Europe’s brightest talents is an exciting prospect, though it will require a significant financial outlay and a convincing pitch for their long-term project.
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