Wirtz's journey includes 118 appearances for the German club in various competitions since his professional debut in May 2020. During this time, he's scored 29 goals and provided 39 assists. Despite a serious ACL injury that kept him out for nine months in 2022, he managed to contribute with four goals and eight assists in 25 matches last season.
In the current season, Wirtz has been in great form, with six goals and nine assists in 15 appearances, helping Leverkusen secure 14 wins in all competitions. This impressive rise on the European stage has attracted the attention of several top clubs, with Manchester City being the latest to express interest.
According to reports from 90min, Manchester City sent scouts to watch Wirtz in action during Leverkusen's recent 3-2 victory against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. It's not the first time City has shown interest in Wirtz, as they have admired him for several years.
Wirtz is under contract with Leverkusen until 2027, so there's no immediate pressure for the club to part ways with him. However, the prospect of playing under the guidance of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City could be enticing for the young player and might lead to a move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League.
Manchester City is considering Wirtz as a potential long-term replacement for their star playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne, who has been linked with a possible move to Saudi Arabia. De Bruyne, aged 32 and currently recovering from a hamstring injury, is under contract with Manchester City until 2025, and the club is reportedly looking for offers exceeding £50 million for the Belgian.
It's worth noting that Wirtz is not the only attacking midfielder from the Bundesliga that Manchester City is keeping an eye on. They have also shown interest in Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala who is reportedly open to the idea of joining Manchester City.
