The Premier League giants had been heavily linked with the 22-year-old German international as a replacement for their departing playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, but have now shifted their focus to alternative options.

Wirtz, who has notched 16 goals and 15 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this season, had emerged as one of Europe's brightest talents. His flair and vision made him a prime target for City, with manager Pep Guardiola reportedly holding talks with the player to outline his role as De Bruyne's successor.

However, the financial demands of the transfer, estimated at around 300 million euros including fees and wages, proved too steep for City's liking.

"They (City) are concerned the cost of the deal is over-inflated," said BBC Sport journalist Sami Mokbel, who broke the news of City's withdrawal. "It would have been the biggest deal in their history."

City's decision reflects their history of walking away from deals they deem poor value. In recent years, they passed on high-profile targets like Harry Kane and Harry Maguire, opting instead for cost-effective signings like Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias. This pragmatic approach has kept them competitive, and they are now eyeing other creative midfielders, with Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White among the names on their shortlist.

"Morgan Gibbs-White remains on Man City's shortlist," confirmed transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, noting that City's talks for Wirtz never progressed beyond initial approaches. Gibbs-White, who has five goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season, offers a different profile but could provide the spark City need.

The move also signals a vote of confidence in Phil Foden, City's homegrown star. "The decision to withdraw from the race to land Wirtz should be viewed as a commitment to Phil Foden's role in Guardiola's plans," Mokbel added. "He has long been seen as the long-term heir to De Bruyne." Foden, despite a challenging season marked by injury and illness, remains central to City's future.

Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are in no rush to sell Wirtz, whose contract runs until 2027. The Bundesliga champions are bracing for interest from Bayern Munich, who are now favorites to land the midfielder, and Liverpool, who have also made contact with the player's representatives.

Wirtz himself has stayed tight-lipped about his future. "I keep seeing posts about me on social media," he said earlier this month. "Nobody but me can know where I'm playing next season. I deal with it in a pretty chill way."

For City, the focus now shifts to their next move in the transfer market as they aim to maintain their edge in the Premier League and beyond. With De Bruyne's exit looming, the race to fill his boots is heating up, and City are determined to get it right.

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