Manchester City have dropped their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz and are now aggressively chasing Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.
With Kevin De Bruyne set to depart this summer, Pep Guardiola wants a new creative engine to anchor his midfield. Though the Wirtz dream has slipped away, the Cityzens have already turned the page and lined up a promising Premier League alternative.
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Bayern and Madrid Overtake City in Wirtz Hunt
Guardiola personally selected Florian Wirtz as the ideal candidate to replace De Bruyne in the No. 10 role. He admired Wirtz’s vision, technique, and composure under pressure. Despite City’s admiration and intent, Wirtz removed the Premier League from his list of preferred destinations.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid now lead the race. Bayern have promised to “move heaven and earth” to sign the 21-year-old and plan to pair him with Jamal Musiala at the heart of their midfield. Meanwhile, Madrid might hold a strategic edge if they appoint Xabi Alonso as manager, given his strong bond with Wirtz from their time at Leverkusen.
Leverkusen’s hierarchy reportedly values Wirtz between €120m (£102m) and €150m (£128m). CEO Fernando Carro prefers selling abroad rather than strengthening Bundesliga rivals. Madrid stand to benefit from this stance if they can outbid Bayern and convince Wirtz to join their project.
Bayern Add Nkunku to Contingency List
Bayern Munich haven’t placed all their eggs in one basket. They have initiated contact with Christopher Nkunku, identifying him as a backup plan. The Chelsea attacker, who previously thrived in Germany with RB Leipzig, wants to secure consistent playing time elsewhere.
“It was confirmed on Monday morning that Nkunku has decided to leave Chelsea permanently this summer so he can be a regular starter elsewhere.”
Bayern now aim to lure the Frenchman back to the Bundesliga if Madrid win the race for Wirtz.
City Accelerate Pursuit of Gibbs-White
City wasted no time shifting gears. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club now plans to “advance” negotiations with Nottingham Forest for Morgan Gibbs-White. Guardiola believes the 24-year-old possesses the creativity and work rate to thrive under his system.
Gibbs-White has impressed under Nuno Espirito Santo and emerged as a key figure in Forest’s lineup. Guardiola views him as an adaptable midfielder who could take over the creative mantle from De Bruyne next season.
Forest Stand Firm But City Stay Determined
Nottingham Forest have made their intentions clear. They want to retain Gibbs-White and reportedly value him near £100m (€117m). However, City believe they can wrap up the deal for £60m (€70m), given the player’s desire to compete at the highest level.
Forest want to keep their playmaker, but the appeal of Champions League football and the opportunity to work under Guardiola could tip the balance.
Talks between the clubs are expected to escalate, and personal terms won’t pose any hurdle. Gibbs-White remains open to joining City, who plan to push hard in the coming weeks.
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FAQs
Manchester City pulled out of the Wirtz race after the player ruled out a Premier League move and focused on joining Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
Manchester City are targeting Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest to replace Kevin De Bruyne in the No. 10 role.
Manchester City plan to offer around £60 million for Morgan Gibbs-White, despite Forest valuing him at £100 million.
Bayern Munich lead the race for Wirtz because of his preference to stay in Germany and their promise to “move heaven and earth” to sign him.
Xabi Alonso could influence Wirtz’s move to Real Madrid due to their strong relationship from their time together at Leverkusen.
