Bayern Munich formalise interest in Pep Guardiola’s chosen Kevin De Bruyne replacement at Manchester City | OneFootball

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has declared the German giants will prioritise the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.

The 21-year-old has attracted transfer interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City in addition to Bayern Munich, and is widely reported to be Pep Guardiola’s number one target to replace the ageing Kevin De Bruyne at the Etihad Stadium.

The Belgian turns 34-years-old in June and is approaching the final months of his current deal, and though City are ready to offer a 12-month extension on reduced wages, the club are keen to add Wirtz to their ranks and build a new-look side around the Germany international.

The Bayer Leverkusen star playmaker played a fundamental role for Xabi Alonso’s side that won a domestic double last season and has been heavily linked with an exit ahead of the summer market.

Manchester City will look to add new blood and ship out some of the deadwood when they rebuild at the end of the season, with all of De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes facing uncertain futures after a disappointing season.

However, City face stiff competition from some of Europe’s elite in their bid to sign Wirtz, not least from Bayern Munich, who will go all out to recruit arguably Germany’s most exciting player in the summer.

In a recent interview with AZ, Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has admitted he makes “no secret of the fact that it must clearly be our goal to sign (Florian) Wirtz,” as quoted by the Daily Mail.

“Everyone at FC Bayern agrees that he is exactly the player we want to sign. Not to weaken Leverkusen, but to strengthen us.”

Over at the Etihad Stadium, Florian Wirtz’s compatriot Ilkay Gundogan is now close to triggering an extension clause in his Manchester City contract that will keep him at the club into the 2025/26 season.

And manager Pep Guardiola will be hopeful that the 34-year-old can lend incoming sporting director Hugo Viana a helping hand and lead Florian Wirtz to Manchester, with conversations and early feelers likely to be put in place over the coming weeks.