Manchester City could reportedly consider including some players as makeweights in a bid to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
Widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Europe, Wirtz has developed into an integral first-team player at Leverkusen under the tutelage of head coach Xabi Alonso.
The attacking midfielder is still only 21 and has already made a total of 174 senior appearances for Leverkusen across all competitions, scoring 51 goals and providing 55 assists.
Wirtz was named 2023-24 Bundesliga Player of the Season after recording 11 goals and 12 assists in 32 league games to help Leverkusen with their first-ever German top-flight title and go the entire campaign unbeaten.
The Germany international has since scored 10 goals and has registered five assists in 22 appearances so far this season, and he has subsequently been linked with a host of Europe's top clubs.
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Man City plotting swap deal for Wirtz?
A recent report claims that Man City are the favourites to secure the services of Wirtz and he has been identified as a potential long-term replacement for club legend Kevin De Bruyne, who is out of contract next summer.
Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have also been credited with an interest in Wirtz, who is under contract at the BayArena until June 2027.
According to TBR Football, Man City are desperate to sign Wirtz and they are willing to include some players as makeweights in a bid to sign the highly-rated midfielder, who is valued at around €100m (£83m).
It remains unknown as to who exactly the Citizens would be prepared to include in a proposed swap deal, but two names who are said to be of interest to Leverkusen are Oscar Bobb and James McAtee.
Leverkusen are said to be under the impression that either Bobb or McAtee could effectively replace Wirtz if he were to be sold in the near future.
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Could Man City really part ways with either Bobb or McAtee?
It is difficult to envisage Man City wanting to part ways with Bobb, who is rated highly by the Citizens and manager Pep Guardiola.
The 21-year-old versatile attacker enjoyed a superb pre-season in the summer and he had high hopes of becoming a first-team regular this term before sustaining a leg fracture in August, ruling him out until the New Year.
Bobb, an eight-cap Norway international, still has over four years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, while McAtee will see his deal expire in June 2026 and there is thought to be more uncertainty surrounding his future.
After two successful years on loan at Sheffield United, McAtee was integrated into Guardiola's first-team squad at the start of this season, but he has only started three of his eight appearances in all competitions, leading to suggestions that he could be loaned out again or be sold in the near future.
The 22-year-old midfielder has been linked with Premier League duo West Ham United and Fulham, while Championship title hopefuls Leeds United have allegedly made an 'audacious bid' for the Man City academy graduate.
Oliver Thomas
