FC Barcelona Negotiate Florian Wirtz Signing With German Wonderkid’s Father

FC Barcelona are ‘very interested’ in signing German wonderkid Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and have approached the player’s father to make this known, according to reports.

A lack of creativity in midfield due to Pedri’s thigh injury-forced absence has pushed Barca to see that back up is needed for the Spain international.

Without their number ‘8’, the Catalans have put in defensive displays as of late with playmaker Frenkie de Jong forced to help out deep as supply to the front line is cut off.

The way Gavi picks up yellow cards at will has meant that the 18-year-old has also been suspended a couple of times in recent weeks, and this will push Barca to look on the market for other teenagers worthy of sharing a locker room with the Golden Boys.

The Blaugrana look set to miss out on Alberto Moleiro from Pedri’s former club Las Palmas. Last summer, they were quoted were quoted a €10 million ($10.56 million) fee for his services plus a further €15 million ($15.8 million) in variables at a time when they had shelled out a total €158 million ($166.8 million) on new signings for 2022/2023.

While Barca have been reported as still being interested in Moleiro, Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez has pointed to the length of the youngster’s contract, which expires in 2026, and his €30 million ($32mn) release clause as a starting point for negotiations.

If the Canary Islands club clinches the Second Division, however, which seems highly likely, this sum will double to €60 million ($63.4 million).

Such a high price should realistically be out of reach for Barca amid being warned by La Liga president Javier Tebas that they must eliminate €200mn ($211.2mn) from the wage bill ahead of next term.

According to SPORT, though, this hasn’t put them off making an approach for Wirtz and speaking to his father.

It is said that the player has been “very much seduced” by the prospect of playing for Barca, but again his rumored €70 million ($74 million) price tag is an obstacle at the moment with a contract running until 2027 meaning he won’t be available on a free or for a reduced fee anytime soon.

With Wirtz considered a once-in-a-generation talent and “difference maker”, however, Barca should try and make the deal happen by offloading some of its misfit wingers such as Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati and sorting out their Financial Fair Play issues.

They could then test the resolve of Bayer Leverkusen, who are thought of as a selling club, while also trying to pick up support for Robert Lewandowski in Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense in Brazil.