Txiki Begiristain worked hard to freshen up Manchester City during the winter transfer window.
The Spaniard completed deals for Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez to provide Pep Guardiola with a new option in attack and midfield respectively, while the defence was also bolstered with the additions of Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
However, there is still work to be done for Hugo Viana when he takes over from Begiristain this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne is still yet to agree a new contract – with his current terms expiring in June – and as the Belgian turns 34 that month, he could well be replaced.
Now – according to Sacha Tavolieri on Sky Sports – Guardiola has chosen a replacement for the Belgium international at Manchester City in Florian Wirtz.
Manchester City approach Florian Wirtz
The respected journalist believes the Spaniard has personally chosen the Germany international as his preferred replacement for De Bruyne – with the Citizens now working on a deal.
Tavolieri states that Manchester City actually tried to sign Wirtz during the winter transfer window just gone – directly approaching the German and his representatives – although the attacking midfielder himself wants to see out the season with Bayer Leverkusen, a decision the Citizens respected and then backed off, for now.
The report adds that Manchester City would have to pay €100m (£83m) to sign the 21-year-old this summer, while also inserting a sell-on fee in the arrangement.
Wirtz – who Arsenal also like – has scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists in 35 appearances across all competitions so far this season, an outstanding return.
Potential Kevin De Bruyne replacement has been compared to Lionel Messi by Xabi Alonso
Wirtz has been a special player for Xabi Alonso in Germany, playing a key role last season as the Bundesliga outfit almost secured an unbeaten treble, only losing to Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League final.
The Pulheim-born attacker remarkably scored 18 goals and assisted a further 20 in 49 appearances.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise to hear Alonso has compared Wirtz to Lionel Messi of all players.
The Spaniard said: “There are good players and there are players who look good on the pitch. The player who looks good does things that are nice, but not necessarily efficient.
“Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says, you’re in a better position? There, you have the ball.
“It’s not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That’s why he’s so good.”
