Arsenal in race to sign German

Arsenal and Liverpool cannot be discounted from the race to sign Bayern Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, according to TBR Football.

Graeme Bailey said: “A lot of people ask about Wirtz and why it seems it is only Bayern Munich and Man City that are pushing hard to sign him.

“It is true they are at the front of the queue, if he decides to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer and that ‘if’ remains the key – as we have reported in the last few weeks, we don’t know what he is thinking – does he sign a new deal and stay for another 12-months, or leave?

“Bayern have had a wonderful 2025 when it comes to their playing staff – their chiefs Max Eberl and Christoph Freund have managed to seal new deals for Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala, when at the turn of the year – the future of all three looked in some doubt.

“Eberl and Freund received major criticism last summer when their hunt for a new head coach saw them scrambling around before they finally landed in Vincent Kompany, who has proved a success.

“Now they have the full trust at the club and they are working hard on this summer’s potential arrivals and the player at he top of their list is Wirtz – he is widely regarded as the best player for his age in Europe, he really is up there with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Pedri, Gavi etc when it comes to talent.

“Man City love him, as we know, and they are doing everything they can to persuade.

“And whilst Bayern and City have done the most work to this point, I am told not to totally discount others, especially in just making an offer – if you are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or even Real Madrid – who all like him – why wouldn’t you at least have the conversation?”