![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_AFC-Bournemouth-v-Manchester-City-Emirates-FA-Cup-Quarter-Final.jpg\")
Kevin De Bruyne is due to leave Manchester City at the end of the season(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)<\/p>\nKevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City at the end of the current season and the club have already begun their search for a replacement – with a top target in mindKevin De Bruyne is due to leave Manchester City at the end of the season(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Manchester City have identified Florian Witrz as the talent to replace Kevin De Bruyne<\/a> – and the champions are prepared to smash through the \u00a3100million barrier to get the Bayer Leverkusen<\/a> wonder boy. City\u2019s decision not to hand De Bruyne a contract extension was determined by their belief that they can prise Wirtz away from the Bundesliga champions this summer.<\/p>\n New director of football Hugo Viana<\/a> will be tasked with making the deal happen – and will be armed with enough cash to tempt Leverkusen into selling their prized asset. City met Aston Villa<\/a> \u2019s \u00a3100million buy-out clause for Jack Grealish<\/a> almost five years ago when Pep Guardiola<\/a> made the midfielder his priority signing.<\/p>\n The Blues are prepared to go big again to land 21-year-old Wirtz – and will hand him a huge increase on his current \u00a373,000-a-week wages. Viana takes over from Txiki Begiristain at the end of the season and is expected to hit the ground running after being recruited from Sporting Lisbon.<\/p>\n City are ready to spend whatever it takes to rebuild Guardiola\u2019s squad after committing more than \u00a3170million on three new players during the winter transfer window. Wirtz is the No 1 target after the Etihad club decided against handing De Bruyne a new deal so that they could pour as much resource as possible into landing the German international.<\/p>\n Wirtz\u2019s deal in Leverkusen still has two years to run – but the club are desperate to convince him to sign a new contract with both City and Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich<\/a> circling.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Pep Guardiola gets his way with Kevin De Bruyne as Man City boss makes final plea<\/a>READ MORE: Kevin De Bruyne’s hidden message in Man City farewell statement to fans<\/a><\/p>\n Leverkusen have proposed a two-year extension until 2028. But Wirtz\u2019s advisers are believed to be pushing for a release clause of \u00a385million to kick in after next year\u2019s World Cup, while Leverkusen want to set the bar at more than \u00a3125milion<\/p>\n City believe the club managed by Xabi Alonso would prefer their star player to move away from the Bundesliga. Whether Wirtz would take the risk of leaving Germany at the start of a season which ends with the World Cup could be an issue.<\/p>\n But the fact that he has been identified by Guardiola to replace a midfield playmaker who has become a Premier League<\/a> legend over the last decade will also be a factor. Wirtz, who has scored 15 goals and made 13 assists this season, is currently sidelined by an ankle injury.<\/p>\n In his absence, Leverkusen have fallen off the pace in the Bundesliga and been knocked out of the Champions by Bayern.And in midweek, they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat in the semi-finals of the German Cup at the hands of third division Arminia Bielefeld.<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports launches discounted Premier League package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Florian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_FC-Bayern-Mnchen-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202425-Round-of-16.jpg\")
Florian Wirtz has impressed for Bayer Leverkusen(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1743925931_139_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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