Barcelona and Real Madrid will reportedly face stiff competition from Newcastle United in the race to sign German prodigy Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Newcastle United will provide stiff competition to Barcelona and Real Madrid in pursuit of Florian Wirtz. The German prodigy, also a target for Bayern Munich and Juventus, is valued at around €70 million by Bayer Leverkusen.
Florian Wirtz has established himself as one of the best young players in Europe since joining Bayer Leverkusen from 1.FC Koln in January 2020. The Bundesliga giants fast-tracked the 18-year-old whizkid to the first-team squad around the time when Kai Havertz was nearing his departure from BayArena.
The German prodigy has progressed tremendously in the last two years, and in the ongoing season, he has ten goals and 14 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. Wirtz’s growth has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Newcastle United, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Barcelona comes in the wake of the uncertainties surrounding the future of Memphis Depay, who could depart Camp Nou in the summer transfer window. With Ousmane Dembele’s future up in the air amid his contract standoff, Barcelona’s need to bolster their attack has increased.
As for Real Madrid, the Merengues are planning for life after Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, with the duo likely to depart the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window. Wirtz has emerged as a viable target, although Real Madrid will likely make their move in the summer transfer window of next year.
The latest entrants in the race to sign Wirtz are Newcastle United, whose squad overhaul will continue in the summer transfer window. The Magpies have already made significant progress after their spending spree in January, and they are poised to make significant additions to their squad in the summer.
Apart from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Newcastle, Juventus and Bayern Munich are also keen on signing Wirtz. But a summer move appears unlikely, with the reliable Fabrizio Romano recently suggesting that Bayer Leverkusen, who value the German prodigy at €70 million, will keep hold of their prized asset this coming summer.
