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Manchester City will have to make Florian Wirtz the most expensive transfer in their history if they want to sign Bayer Leverkusen's talisman, according to a report in Germany.

Wirtz is widely considered to be one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. The reigning Bundesliga Player of the Season has not been sucked into Leverkusen's collective drop-off this term, racking up an impressive 15 goals and 12 assists in 34 appearances.

Such prolific output for a player who is still only 21 has naturally attracted interest from Europe's elite. Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the progressive playmaker and City are cast as long-term admirers.

Pep Guardiola was keen on bringing Wirtz to the Etihad Stadium during the January window and remains fixated on continuing City's extravagant rebuild with the Germany international as his central gem, per BILD.

Florian Wirtz is the Bundesliga's joint-highest assist provider - alongside Man City's winter acquisition Omar Marmoush / Mika Volkmann/GettyImages

Leverkusen are trying to tie their star man to a one-year contract extension - which has not been finalised despite reports to the contrary. If they get a deal over the line, it will supposedly include a buyout clause of €125m (£104m) - although that would only be valid from the summer of 2026.

If Wirtz doesn't put pen to paper, Leverkusen will demand at least €150m (£125m) for a player whose current deal expires in 2027.

City's most expensive acquisition remains the £100m splashed on Jack Grealish back in the summer of 2021. As Guardiola has been at pains to point out, the reigning Premier League champions have balanced their expenditure in the transfer market with lucrative sales.

If that strategy is to remain in place, City may need to sell before committing a nine-digit fee to Wirtz after splashing out around £180m on five permanent arrivals during the January transfer window.