Manchester City have reignited their interest in Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Florian Wirtz, 90min understands.

Wirtz is widely regarded as one of European football’s brightest prospects, and is back in the German national team fold after recovering from a serious knee ligament injury which sidelined him for nine months and deprived him of a place at the 2022 World Cup.

The 19-year-old has long been on City’s radar, and sources have confirmed to 90min that the club are again taking a real interest in his progress.

City are not alone in their admiration of the player, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle known to have watched him, and Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also in the running.

The strongest links, however, have seen Wirtz mentioned in dispatches with Barcelona, and he spoke of the Catalan giants’ rumoured interest after joining up with Germany ahead of the upcoming international break.

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“I haven’t heard anything from my father about Barcelona,” Wirtz said. “I only read it and was surprised. I want to focus on Leverkusen and be successful. I’m not looking into the future now,” he said.

Despite the links, German sources have told 90min that Leverkusen do not envisage Wirtz, who is under contract until 2027, leaving this summer, although their stance may alter if they are unable to climb up the Bundesliga table and receive a sizeable offer.

One major reason that Leverkusen believe will convince Wirtz to stay is making sure he’s part of Hansi Flick’s squad for next summer’s Euro 2024, which is being hosted in Germany.

“I would like to be there [the Euros], to play a good tournament and, above all, to inspire the people in Germany again,” Wirtz added to the assembled media.

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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss the race to sign Jude Bellingham, Antonio Conte’s Tottenham future, Roy Hodgson’s return to Crystal Palace, Erling Haaland’s contract, Mason Mount & more!

If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!

90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world…

Liverpool and Manchester United have moved ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign Ruben Neves from Wolves this summer. (Football Insider)

With the signing of Jude Bellingham now unlikely, Liverpool could also turn to Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch for midfield reinforcement. (The Athletic)

Napoli have slapped a €150m price tag on star striker Victor Osimhen amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. (Il Mattino)

PSG have now also thrown their hat into the ring to sign Osimhen at the end of the season. (Foot Mercato)

Declan Rice is ‘super appreciated’ by the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, with the midfielder expected to leave West Ham this summer. (Fabrizio Romano)

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In terms of outgoings at Chelsea, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could return to Barcelona this summer just 12 months after leaving Camp Nou. (Mundo Deportivo)

Aubameyang is not the only player who may find themselves back in Catalonia, with Tottenham unlikely to make a permanent offer to sign Clement Lenglet from Barcelona at the end of his loan deal. (AS)

Real Madrid are interested in signing Kai Havertz from Chelsea, but it would take an offer of around €80m for the Blues to be tempted into a sale. (Fichajes)

West Ham are ready to battle Manchester United for the signing of France defender Axel Disasi. His current club, Monaco, are believed to be holding out for a fee of £44m. (Daily Mail)

Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga would rather join Real Madrid than the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. (Radio Estadio Noche)

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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss the race to sign Jude Bellingham, Antonio Conte’s Tottenham future, Roy Hodgson’s return to Crystal Palace, Erling Haaland’s contract, Mason Mount & more!

If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!

Jude Bellingham is the most talked about young footballer in the world right now, and for good reason: he’s a superstar in the making.

The 19-year-old has been in brilliant form for Borussia Dortmund this season, helping to guide them to the top of the Bundesliga table ahead of the international break.

Because to his sustained good form, and his general prodigal brilliance, Bellingham has been heavily linked with a move to some of Europe’s top clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool among those keen to agree a deal.

But 90min has revealed that BVB will stand firm in their valuation of Bellingham, and a sale this summer will only be sanctioned if the club are to receive a record fee close to €150m.

So will Bellingham be leaving? If so, who will he be joining? Could the teenager even sign a contract extension at Dortmund?

To answer that and more, the Talking Transfers team, part of the 90min podcast network, assessed where we’re currently at and what could end up happening…

Graeme Bailey: What people forget is that Borussia Dortmund have Bellingham under contract until 2025. They’re allowing him to talk to these other clubs because they’re a well-run club. They sign players with the promise that they’re going to build them up for the future.

His people and his family have been talking to Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City since the summer, if not before.

Graeme Bailey: If he doesn’t want to sign his new deal then Dortmund are open to him leaving, but there’s no bargain fee here – they want €150m. Some people may raise their eyebrows at that but they want to sell him for more than what they sold Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona for in 2017 (€144m).

I don’t think it’s beyond the realms of fantasy for them to ask for that fee. That’s his market value. Real Madrid and Manchester City can afford that fee. Liverpool, on the other hand, especially under FSG have no history of paying anywhere near that sort of fee. Obviously he comes with a huge wage packet as well so it’s hard to see Liverpool doing it, but from our understanding they are still in the race.

We expect Bellingham to tell Dortmund what he next move is by the end of March or potentially by Easter at the latest.

Graeme Bailey: If he decides to stay, Dortmund are preparing to make him the highest paid player in their history and they’ll include a release clause in the new contract. This is very similar to what they did with Erling Haaland. He stayed for another year and then eventually left.

It will be one of Liverpool, Real Madrid or Man City if he does go, but staying is becoming more and more of a possibility. Sources close to Dortmund have told us that the club have been making a case to Bellingham and his family have been receptive to it, his mum is living over there with him and he’s very happy there.

If stays for another year the release clause in his contract will be under £100m and will really open the door for a move to Liverpool. If he signs the new deal it may be hint that he, ultimately, does want to join Liverpool.

Toby Cudworth: The reality is Jude Bellingham does not need to move right now. He’s 19, his situation is not going to change in 12 months. Hell, it wouldn’t even change in the next three or four years because he’d still have every club in the world after him.

If the deal is not right for Dortmund, understandably they are going to hold out for a fee that they think he’s worth. Bellingham is the most valuable midfielder in world football right now.

Graeme Bailey: This could have knock-on effects for West Ham and Declan Rice for example: If Bellingham isn’t going anywhere, suddenly Rice looks a lot more attractive a proposition.

Toby Cudworth: Absolutely, because we anticipate City are going to rebuild their midfield this summer in some way. We’re expecting Bernardo Silva to leave, Kalvin Philiips’ future is uncertain, Ilkay Gundogan could be leaving. If it’s not Jude Bellingham going to Manchester City this summer, Declan Rice’s name – he’s already on their list – could be bumped up. There’s huge ramifications for what Bellingham chooses to do as it could shape how the rest of the market pans out.

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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss the race to sign Jude Bellingham, Antonio Conte’s Tottenham future, Roy Hodgson’s return to Crystal Palace and move.

If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!