Florian Wirtz: Bayer Leverkusen chief makes surprise one-word transfer admission

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro claimed that his club's star player Florian Wirtz is just as likely to leave as he is stay this summer, which represents a considerable shift in stance.

Outside interest in Wirtz is nothing new. The prolific creator who has made a habit of tip-toeing between opponents' lines of midfield and defence is being openly chased by Bayern Munich, whose board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made "no secret of the fact that it must clearly be our goal to sign Wirtz".

Manchester City are also thought to have identified the 22-year-old as a leading candidate to replace Kevin De Bruyne, while links to Real Madrid have only intensified since it became increasingly apparent that current Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso would take the helm of the Spanish giants.

As recently as April, Carro boasted that there was a "very high chance" of Wirtz remaining in Leverkusen. In the eyes of the club executive, that probability has been slashed to just "50-50".

After watching Wirtz tee up both Leverkusen goals in a 4-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday afternoon, Carro told DAZN that the team's star player still has to decide "what he wants and when he wants to take the next step".

Sporting director Simon Rolfes added: "He is a Bayer 04 player. We are fighting to ensure that he remains that player next season." The former player insisted that Leverkusen is "the right place" for Wirtz. "Our goal is to convince him of that."

Numerous reports in Germany have claimed that Bayern Munich are leading the race to sign Wirtz, with some outlets even suggesting that a deal has already been struck. Alonso questioned these claims, giving hope to City and Madrid.

However, Leverkusen fans pining after another season of Wirtz's ephemeral skill won't be filled with optimism. Carro used exactly the same phrase - "50-50" - to describe Alonso's chances of leaving Leverkusen earlier this season. The talismanic manager has since confirmed his exit and it remains to be seen if Wirtz will follow him out of the door.

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