Manchester City have reportedly withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, according to English media sources including BBC Sport.

The Premier League champions, led by manager Pep Guardiola, were said to be keen on signing the 22-year-old German international this summer. However, soaring financial demands have forced City to step back from what could have become the most expensive transfer in the club’s history.

Initial estimates placed the total cost of the potential deal — including transfer fee, bonuses, and wages — at around €300 million. Despite Wirtz’s widely acknowledged status as one of Europe’s brightest young talents, Manchester City are understood to have deemed the valuation excessive and unsustainable.

The decision aligns with City’s historical stance on financial prudence in the transfer market. The club has previously shown a willingness to walk away from marquee signings when the numbers don’t align with their internal valuations — even for top-tier players.

Furthermore, City's decision to pass on Wirtz could be seen as a strong endorsement of Phil Foden, who continues to emerge as a central figure in Guardiola’s long-term strategy. With Kevin De Bruyne approaching the twilight of his career, Foden is widely expected to inherit a more pivotal creative role — one that Wirtz’s arrival might have complicated.