Arsenal and Man City sent clear transfer message as they target Ballon d’Or nominee

Arsenal and Manchester City person small to nary accidental of signing Florian Wirtz adjacent summer, according to Bayer Leverkusen’s CEO.

Regarded arsenic 1 of the champion young players successful the satellite close now, Wirtz’s illustration received a immense boost past play arsenic Leverkusen went the full home run unbeaten.

Xabi Alonso’s squad mislaid conscionable 1 of their 53 matches successful each competitions, winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup, with their lone nonaccomplishment coming successful the Europa League last against Atalanta.

Wirtz was cardinal to their success, signaling 18 goals and 20 assists successful 29 appearances, and arsenic a effect was named Bundesliga Player of the Season and finished 12th successful the Ballon d’Or.

The attacking midfielder besides starred astatine Euro 2024 for Germany, scoring doubly including the opening extremity of the tourney against Scotland.

With his signifier not dipping this season, the 21-year-old remains a apical people for the biggest clubs astir Europe, including Arsenal, City and Real Madrid.

It was precocious reported that the Gunners were successful information starring the contention for his signature and were hopeful that they could onslaught a woody adjacent summertime worthy astir €100m (£83.5m).

However, Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has present moved to firmly contradict claims that Wirtz would beryllium leaving the nine astatine the extremity of the season.

‘Very precocious and wherefore shouldn’t they beryllium high?’ Carro replied erstwhile asked what the chances were of his prima subordinate remaining astatine Die Werkself.

‘As agelong arsenic helium has a declaration here, arsenic agelong arsenic helium feels comfy here, arsenic agelong arsenic helium knows that helium tin play apical shot present and has a apical squad and tin observe successes, past helium is happy.

‘The thoughts of each the players, coaches, coaching staff, and absorption of the nine are successful the present and now. We person capable to bash connected the transportation until the extremity of the year.

‘It often annoys maine that determination is specified speculation. I tin admit that.

“But the present and present is important, cipher is funny successful adjacent play astatine the infinitesimal and thing has been finalised.’

Carro besides insisted that manager Alonso, who was tipped to articulation Liverpool past summertime and continues to beryllium linked with Real Madrid, would beryllium staying put.

On the pitch, Leverkusen person mislaid conscionable 2 of their opening 18 games successful each competitions but presently beryllium 4th successful the Bundesliga, 9 points disconnected Bayern Munich.

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