Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly identified Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz as the ideal y Mail.
The 21-year-old has impressed for the Bundesliga side since breaking into the first team as a teenager, playing a key role in Xabi Alonso’s squad during their historic unbeaten title-winning campaign last season.
Wirtz had previously been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but now Manchester City believe he can provide the same creative dynamism in midfield that De Bruyne has offered, especially as the Belgian is expected to leave this summer.
Since the start of last season, Wirtz has contributed 41 goals in 57 appearances. De Bruyne himself made a name for himself in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, leading them to a DFB Pokal win and a second-place finish before moving to City. Since then, De Bruyne has scored 106 goals and provided 174 assists in 413 appearances under Guardiola.
