Arsenal enter race to sign €130 million-rated Real Madrid target

Arsenal have now entered the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s rising star, Florian Wirtz, according to a report from Sport Bild, with additional details shared by iMiaSanMia.

The 21-year-old German midfielder is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in world football, and unsurprisingly, Real Madrid are also heavily interested in securing his signature.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have been keeping tabs on Wirtz for some time, having scouted him during his youth career in DC Koln.

Despite being under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2027, rumours suggest that Wirtz has clear ambitions when it comes to his future move.

Whenever he decides to leave the Bundesliga side, he wants to join a team capable of competing for and winning the Champions League.

Furthermore, he desires to play for a club that can offer him the opportunity to contend for individual honours, such as the Ballon d’Or. Bayer Leverkusen, fully aware of Wirtz’s potential, have set a massive asking price of €150 million.

Real Madrid remain favourites

At the moment, it seems unlikely that Wirtz will leave Leverkusen anytime soon. However, Real Madrid are considered strong favourites to eventually secure the midfielder’s services.

One of the key reasons for this is the possibility of Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen’s current manager, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid once the Italian coach departs.

Wirtz has worked closely with Alonso, and the former midfielder’s influence could play a major role in any potential transfer.

While the next summer transfer window is still a while away, Real Madrid are currently seen as the frontrunners in the pursuit of Wirtz. They face stiff competition, not just from Arsenal, but also from Bayern Munich and other elite European clubs.

However, given Real Madrid’s stature and potential future managerial situation, they remain in a strong position to land Wirtz if and when he decides to move.

Player valuation in the title obtained from transfermarkt.com on the date of publication.