Barcelona have reportedly identified Bayer Leverkusen and Germany starlet Florian Wirtz as a key transfer target for the summer of 2023.
According to Fichajes, Barcelona have set their sights on a move for Bayer Leverkusen prodigy Florian Wirtz for the summer transfer window of next year.
Wirtz came through the ranks at the academy of 1. FC Koln before moving to the Bayer Leverkusen setup in January 2020. He made his first-team bow for the German giants in May that year and has since grown into a pivotal player for the Bundesliga giants. The 19-year-old has made 78 appearances for Die Werkself, bagging 19 goals and 22 assists.
Wirtz had been in red-hot form in the current season, registering 24 goal contributions in 31 matches across all competitions before a serious knee injury in March ended his campaign early. The versatile attacking midfielder has also made four appearances for the German national team after making his debut in September last year.
With his performances, Wirtz has ensured that Bayer Leverkusen have not missed the presence of Kai Havertz at the club. However, the youngster is now attracting strong interest from several clubs from across Europe. Indeed, the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Newcastle United are all interested in Wirtz, with Barcelona also among his admirers.
But due to the serious nature of his knee injury, any move in the upcoming transfer window can be ruled out. And Barcelona have now made him a top target for the summer of 2023, claims the report.
Able to play as an attacking midfielder or a winger on either flank, the 19-year-old would add more quality to the Barça squad. Furthermore, the player himself revealed in a recent interview that he has always dreamt of playing for the Catalan giants, which will come as a boost in their plans to sign him next year.
Wirtz has a contract with Bayer Leverkusen that runs until the summer of 2026. Any move to sign him would require a huge transfer fee, something Barcelona cannot afford in their current financial situation. But, with the club prepared to wait until 2023 to make their move, it should give enough time for them to come up with the funds necessary to sign Wirtz.
However, with arch-rivals Real Madrid also planning a swoop for Wirtz in 2023, things could certainly get interesting.
