Sport
Florian Wirtz could be the perfect player for Man City’s rebuild
Florian Wirtz is the best possible replacement for Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City this summer. The Germany and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker is both among the best in the world right now, but possesses such potential to achieve so much more than he already has. Yet, City are unlikely to take steps towards a deal because of the cost, hinting at another extremely concerning trend about the transfer market generally.
It is vital, now more than ever, that City find the right way to fill the void soon to be left by De Bruyne. While Pep Guardiola has rarely been one for signing superstars, Erling Haaaland being the obvious exception, instead opting for mouldable talents he can improve within a team unit, that may not be the right course of action. His Barcelona team was full of world class players, most of whom he inherited or developed from the academy, but at Bayern Munich and latterly City, he has been the star; his tactics, ideas and aura are the main reason they have been so successful.
De Bruyne has been one of the pillars of their dominance, and arguably the main reason Guardiola’s recruitment approach has worked. He is so consistent and reliable, he has either covered for or
raised the level of team-mates who have joined with lesser reputations and become a cog in the machine. Jack Grealish is a prime example; it could be argued the rigidness of Guardiola’s demands have stunted his game. At Aston Villa, he became the player City decided to sign for £100m three years ago because of a carefree approach on the pitch. With more structure, he has struggled. De Bruyne, meanwhile, has thrived as Guardiola’s ideas have changed. He has been a constant.
That is the level the next player who arrives must hit. Wirtz certainly fits the bill as a brilliant dribbler with an eye for a pass and an ability to play both deep and high up. He seems primed to take on the mantle at City, and is already a big game player, starring for Germany at the Euros last summer after lifting the Bundesliga title in an unbeaten season with Leverkusen. Another reported target, Morgan Gibbs-White, a supremely talented player who has driven Nottingham Forest back into Europe this summer, does come with risks having not played at that level. He would usually fit the bill as a player Guardiola could elevate, but City need a new conductor on the pitch, a standard bearer, especially at this juncture.
After failing to win a major trophy this season, with Champions League qualification still to be assured, there is a clear rebuild needed. De Bruyne isn’t likely to be the only major exit this summer.
The guarantee that City will be ready to compete next season patently isn’t there anymore; this is not the time to be taking risks with new players. Wirtz is ready for that berth, but City don’t appear
to be able to afford him.
Reports this week suggest the club have walked away with the overall package for the 22-year-old said to be around £250m. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid – where his former boss Xabi Alonso is almost certain to be headed – and Liverpool are also keen to sign him, but it is hard to see how any of them can stump up such funds while also covering other areas they need to improve.
This is another example of how the transfer market is getting out of hand. The very best players are almost unilaterally unattainable. In this instance, there is a positive in the sense that Wirtz may well stay at Leverkusen, where he is contracted until 2027, but that only increases the chances of him leaving for free at the end of his contract.
If Manchester City can’t afford a player, and other stars like Haaland or Mbappe are only moving clubs due to extremely low buyout clauses or becoming free agents, it is proof that football is slowly eating itself from within.
