Bayer Leverkusen officials visit Manchester City to assess double transfer swoop | OneFootball

Manchester City were visited by representatives from Bayer Leverkusen in the last week to discuss transfers ahead of the upcoming summer market, according to reports.

The visit from the Bundesliga club coincided with the groundbreaking announcement from Kevin De Bruyne on social media, confirming the decision to leave Manchester City at the end of the ongoing season.

Naturally, discussions in the media and among supporters that Leverkusen had made the trip over to Manchester raised excitement over the possibility of talks intensifying over a potential deal for Florian Wirtz this summer.

The Germany international is being viewed as the natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne from within Manchester City, although the Premier League club will need to stump up an eye-watering amount of cash – north of £100 million – to secure his services.

But it may just be the financial proposal that could have an effect on such a deal, with a report centred around Bayer Leverkusen’s visit to Manchester City revealing a clear interest from the German club in two members of Pep Guardiola’s squad.

That is according to the information of The Mirror’s Simon Mullock, who reports that Bayer Leverkusen want to sign James McAtee and Stefan Ortega, with City officials set to use interest as leverage in their own pursuit of number one summer target, Florian Wirtz.

It is claimed that officials from the Bundesliga club made a planned visit to the Etihad Campus during the week, and sounded out the prospect of signing Manchester City’s duo, who will be sold if the price is right.

For James McAtee, a £25 million transfer fee has been reported, while £15 million would be enough to secure Stefan Ortega Moreno.

There is likely to be interest in both members of the Manchester City squad from further afield, although information of rival suitors for Bayer Leverkusen is yet to arise following the January market.

In the case of James McAtee, it was reported in the build-up to the last winter window that all of Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Brentford and Crystal Palace were keeping a close eye on his situation at the Etihad Stadium.

Bayer Leverkusen were also listed as a potential suitor at the time with their interest long-standing, rivalled by fellow Bundesliga clubs in Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, as well as Fiorentina and Bologna from Italy.