Florian Wirtz, the 21-year-old German wonderkid, is on the radar of all the European giants. Even before his remarkable season with Bayer Leverkusen, culminating in a Bundesliga and German Cup double under Xabi Alonso, top clubs were circling.

Wirtz, however, has made it clear he’ll stay at Leverkusen next season to play Champions League football. This appears to be a strategic move, setting the stage for a big-money transfer in 2025 – potentially his last year under contract with the German club.

Barcelona eye move for Florian Wirtz in 2025

While Wirtz has predominantly emerged as a target for Real Madrid, a recent report from Mundo Deportivo has added that Barcelona, too, are eyeing a calculated move for the German starlet in the summer of 2025.

For Barca, he represents a dream signing championed by sporting director Deco. Deco’s personal connection with Wirtz, alongside a perceived advantage in terms of player preference could tip the scales in Barca’s favor.

A star in the making (Photo by UWE KRAFT/AFP via Getty Images)

Wirtz, after all, has openly expressed childhood admiration for Barça in the past and one would expect him to embrace the challenges in Catalonia.

Can Barcelona compete with Real Madrid?

Real Madrid, however, boasts significant financial muscle and may have already secured a verbal agreement with the player.

The potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe this summer and Jude Bellingham in 2024 strengthens their attacking options, making the competition for Wirtz even more fierce.

Not to mention, Wirtz is likely to command an astronomical fee. Barcelona already anticipate a figure exceeding €100 million, with German outlet Bild suggesting a staggering €150 million price tag.

Financial muscle will be crucial for Barca, who are actively working to improve their financial situation in adherence to La Liga’s fair play regulations.