Arsenal and Manchester City are set to miss out on signing Florian Wirtz as the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has agreed to join Bayern Munich, according to reports in Germany.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been closely monitoring Wirtz’s impressive performances for Leverkusen for over a year and have the 22-year-old on their midfield shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, Pep Guardiola also views Wirtz as a pivotal part of his midfield rebuild at Manchester City and has urged his club’s hierarchy to make a move for the Germany international this summer.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, have been keen to tie Wirtz down on a new contract, with his existing deal due to expire in 2027.
The Bundesliga side have so far been unable to reach an agreement and have set a €150 million (£126.8m) asking price ahead of the summer window.
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According to Bild, Wirtz has now agreed to join Bayern Munich, however, there is a major hurdle that must be overcome for a deal to take place this summer.
Bayern are unwilling to meet Leverkusen’s asking price and their highest offer would be a package worth €100m (£84.5m).
Wirtz, who has 16 goals and 13 assists this season, has privately indicated to Bayern that he is willing to wait and spend another campaign at Leverkusen before making the move next year.
Leverkusen have already been dealt one huge blow this week as Xabi Alonso announced on Friday that he will leave the club at the end of the Bundesliga season.
It is widely expected that Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid before the Spanish side’s Club World Cup campaign in June.
‘We can let you know that this week the club and I, we have agreed that these two games are going to be my last two games as a Bayern Leverkusen coach,’ Alonso said.
‘We have been talking during this week that is always about the moment and now is the right moment to announce it.’
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