City Exit Wirtz Race as £126m Price Tag Proves Prohibitive

Manchester City have withdrawn from the pursuit of Florian Wirtz after deeming Bayer Leverkusen's £126 million valuation excessive, leaving Liverpool and Bayern Munich as the primary contenders for the coveted German playmaker.

City had identified the 22-year-old virtuoso as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne, but have maintained their disciplined approach to transfer negotiations that has served them well in recent windows.

Wirtz, whose meteoric rise has been punctuated by 18 goals and 20 assists during Leverkusen's historic unbeaten domestic double last term, has continued his scintillating form this campaign with 16 strikes and 15 assists across all competitions.

The midfield maestro has already accumulated 29 caps for Germany despite his tender age, with outgoing Leverkusen tactician Xabi Alonso not hesitating to describe him as "world-class" throughout their successful partnership.

City's decision mirrors their strategy during previous high-profile pursuits, most notably when they abandoned negotiations for Harry Kane amid Tottenham's £150m demands. The club subsequently secured Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland in consecutive summers – transfers that have yielded substantial silverware under Pep Guardiola's stewardship.

According to reliable German journalist Christian Falk, Wirtz may already be leaning towards the Bavarian giants, though Bayern's initial €100m (£84.7m) offering falls significantly below Leverkusen's valuation. Bayern's hierarchy have made their intentions clear, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stating unequivocally: "Everyone at FC Bayern agrees that he is exactly the player we want to sign."

The Etihad hierarchy's retreat may indirectly benefit Phil Foden, whose challenging campaign has been affected by fatigue and inconsistency but who remains integral to City's long-term vision.

Recent developments saw Wirtz's representatives holding discussions with Premier League suitors, with reports suggesting the player himself visited Merseyside for preliminary talks with Liverpool.

Despite the intense speculation surrounding his future, sources in Germany suggest Wirtz could remain at BayArena for another season, having helped Leverkusen secure Bundesliga runners-up status and reach the Champions League last-16 stage this term.