superheng1688 Manchester City, the defending Premier League champions, have joined Real Madrid in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz for £85 million this summer.

The two European football powerhouses, who will face off at the Santiago Bernabeu in the UEFA Champions League play-off on Wednesday night (February 19), both admire the skills of the German national team midfielder. superheng1688

Wirtz, 21, is expected to move to Los Blancos if he leaves the Bay Arena, but is considered by Spanish manager Pep Guardiola and the City board of directors as a long-term replacement for Kevin De Bruyne.

The Citizens have launched a rebuilding plan, spending £175m on four new signings in the January transfer window, including midfielder Nico Gonzalez and attacker Omar Marmouch, who can play as a number 10 or a winger.

But City are aware that De Bruyne is turning 34 and his contract is up this summer, and his health is starting to deteriorate. Guardiola

admitted last week that two long-term injuries have weighed on the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg star. Phil

Foden, a product of the City academy, is keen to inherit the role of central midfielder, but he has often been used in a variety of positions.

Wirtz has scored and assisted a combined 27 goals this season, leading Leverkusen to look to tie him down to a new deal, but the player’s decision could be influenced by whether manager Xabi Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti at Madrid,

while Bayern Munich, managed by former City captain Vincent Kompany, are also keen on Wirtz, having developed alongside Jamal Musiala at international level. ( superheng1688 )