Reported: Leverkusen want to do everything to prevent Wirtz from joining Bayern

Bayer Leverkusen are determined to prevent Florian Wirtz from joining Bayern Munich, despite a verbal agreement between Wirtz's camp and Bayern for a €25 million annual salary. Reported by Sacha Tavolieri.

Aware that losing Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz in the same season would amount to accepting a major industrial disaster, Bayer Leverkusen wants to do everything to prevent the arrival of the German prodigy in Bavaria. Even though his parents and representatives have already established a verbal (and not written) agreement with the Bayern Munich bosses on the basis of a five-year contract, which could allow the main interested party to receive up to twenty-five million euros gross per year, the leak of information to this effect has caused rumblings at the BayArena.

While they are demanding one hundred million euros to let Florian Wirtz leave for a foreign club—that is, not a direct competitor—Bayer 04's management would like to obtain up to one hundred and fifty million euros from the German champions before agreeing to sit down at the negotiating table. Already in advanced discussions with Manchester City for several weeks, the management has established an initial basis for a verbal agreement for a transfer between clubs, with the Citizens, with the aim of streamlining exchanges between the English club and the German attacking midfielder's entourage. However, it has come to our attention that Bayern is, at present, the club having made the best salary offer to the young prodigy.

The Bavarian club's management knows this: Manchester City has established a clear rule setting the maximum salary cap at Pep Guardiola's current salary. No one should earn more than the coach. However, FC Bayern's proposal would see the German receive (not including agent fees for family and representatives) a sum slightly higher than the usual limit set by the Citizens in their player contracts. This has the effect of slightly blocking the English club's management in this matter, while Bayern Munich has taken advantage of the excitement surrounding a possible transfer of Florian Wirtz to apply maximum pressure via the country's sports media.

This explains why all the information linking FC Bayern to Florian Wirtz has been published in recent days... For his part, Xabi Alonso has not given up hope of convincing his protégé to join him at Real Madrid. But the Basque also knows that by accepting the Spanish offer, he has conceded that he does not have the final say when it comes to player signings. Despite the support of his soon-to-be ex-coach, sources confirm that Florentino Pérez would not be inclined to make such a financial effort to welcome Wirtz to Madrid.

Bayern are currently pushing, but Manchester City could still turn things around...