Will Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz sign for Real Madrid?

When it comes to incoming transfer business, Real Madrid’s summer plans are pretty much set: Kylian Mbappé and Endrick Felipe are due to be added to Los Blancos’ attacking options, and left-back Alphonso Davies could join from Bayern Munich. Madrid appear unlikely to do much else in the end-of-season window. Despite Toni Kroos’ decision to retire after Euro 2024, the Spanish champions are not expected to strengthen in midfield: the plan is that Jude Bellingham will cover the German’s absence by dropping into a deeper position in the engine room. While this means Bellingham is likely to net fewer goals than this term - the Englishman is the third-top scorer in LaLiga - Mbappé can be relied on to make up for that shortfall.

Real Madrid watching wunderkind Wirtz

However, although Madrid are not looking much beyond Mbappé, Endrick and Davies this summer, that doesn’t mean the club aren’t busy combing the market for potential future signings. And among the players that Madrid chiefs are keeping very close tabs on is Florian Wirtz.

The Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder has been one of the stars of the European soccer season, and is being tipped to make a big impact for Germany at the Euros. Having already served notice of his talent in previous campaigns, he enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2023/24: he has 18 goals and 20 assists to his name, and played a key role for Leverkusen as Die Werkself won their first ever Bundesliga title.

How much is Wirtz worth?

One of Wirtz’s major strengths is his versatility in attack. Although the 21-year-old chiefly plays as an attacking midfielder, he can also operate on either wing or at No. 9. A skilled dribbler, he possesses wonderful vision and a killer final pass - as is evidenced by his impressive tally of assists this season. Given his immense talent and sparkling displays, his expected price tag has rocketed, though: according to Transfermarkt, a website that specialises in calculating players’ market value, Wirtz is currently worth around €110 million ($119 million).

Madrid playing Wirtz waiting game

Madrid have always kept a close eye on the German market. Kroos is a prime example of this, having moved to the Bernabéu from Bayern in a €25 million deal a decade ago. What’s more, Madrid are keen admirers of the work Leverkusen do to develop young talent. They’re a club that also brought through Kai Havertz, a player Madrid were close to signing from Leverkusen before the covid-19 pandemic scuppered the deal. Havertz ended up going to Chelsea, where he won a Champions League winners’ medal before moving on to Arsenal.

Madrid’s growing interest in Wirtz is, in no small part, thanks to the Spaniards’ former midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who has brought the best out of the youngster during his hugely successful tenure as Leverkusen head coach. It’s no secret that Alonso, who led Leverkusen to a European-record 51-game unbeaten run this season, is a major target for the 14-time European champions as they make plans for the day when current boss Carlo Ancelotti leaves the Bernabéu dugout.

While Madrid are acutely aware of the admiring glances that Wirtz is attracting from clubs across Europe, the LaLiga giants are not in any hurry to follow through on their interest in the German. He’s under contract at Leverkusen until 2027 and, for now, Madrid’s attacking positions look to be well covered. However, they’re not missing a minute of Wirtz’s games. Most recently, Madrid had a watchful eye on the youngster during Wednesday’s Europa League final in Dublin, where Leverkusen’s undefeated streak came to an end in a 3-0 defeat to Italians Atalanta.