Man City seriously eyeing “magician” for Pep as Begiristain told to pay club-record fee.

Manchester City is intent on signing Pep’s “magician” while Begiristain is ordered to pay a club-record fee.Manchester City shattered their transfer record and the

British transfer record in the summer of 2021 by paying £100 million to acquire Jack Grealish. Although Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Declan Rice have since tied or surpassed Grealish atop the Premier League standings, he continues to represent City.Since then, only Josko Gvardiol, who was acquired from RB Leipzig for £77.5 million last summer, has come close, but Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen could now establish a new standard in the Bundesliga. In November, the attacker’s father, Hans-Joachim Wirtz, expressed that it “makes sense” for him to remain with Leverkusen “for a while.” However, this assessment may not entirely capture the prevailing sentiments within the club.City is among the organizations closely observing Wirtz.

Sport Bild of Germany reports that Manchester City is carefully monitoring Wirtz. They, along with other “top clubs” in Europe such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, are “observing every move of Wirtz.”Although there are currently no “concrete” developments regarding contract negotiations or discussions regarding a transfer, the player’s camp has “left an open door” for an exit. Notwithstanding their public declarations, they do not possess “one hundred percent commitment” to the Werkself.Regardless of when Wirtz departs—this year or in 2025—Leverkusen will demand a transfer fee in excess of €130 million, or approximately £112 million. As opposed to making preparations for a sale, Xabi Alonso’s coaching staff is intent on securing him a new contract that would make him the club’s highest-earning player.

“Magician” Wirtz has the potential to reach world-class caliber under Pep Guardiola.Therefore, the crucial inquiry is whether Wirtz would be cost-effective. During the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, he garnered significant attention throughout Europe with 40 direct goal contributions (22 goals, 18 assists) in 71 games across all competitions. Additionally, he was named the Bundesliga’s Newcomer of the Season and was a member of the competition’s best XI.His development came to a halt in the spring of 2022 when he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which sidelined him for over a year. After making his return, he swiftly regained form in the 2022/23 run-in with four goals and eight assists, garnering him the Europa League Young Player of the Season award notwithstanding his absence from the entire group stage as he assisted his club in advancing to the semifinals.This brings us to the current season. Before this weekend, Wirtz had accumulated 20 goal involvements in 24 appearances for Xabi Alonso’s squad, which leads the Bundesliga and is unblemished after their 3-2 victory at Leipzig. His season total was 20 (eight goals, twelve assists). As of the writing, he holds the position of second in the Bundesliga with seven assists, and fourth among the major five leagues in Europe.Teammate Victor Boniface has characterized him as a “magician” who engages in “insane” activities during practice sessions every day. Jacek Kulig, a talent evaluator, considers him to be a “absolute gem.” He is a genuinely generational talent who, at the tender age of 20, has the potential to reach world-class status under Pep Guardiola, thereby repaying City’s investment with a lengthy tenure at the Etihad.