After fixing their injury-ravaged defense department, Real Madrid are likely to reignite their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz. According to the latest media reports, 21-year-old Wirtz, who has come of age under former Madridista Xabi Alonso's watch, is believed to be the piece missing in the Real midfield.
Real Madrid's midfield is rich in talent but lacks creativity as things stand. Federico Valverde and co. are struggling to fill in the shoes of retired Toni Kroos despite Luka Modric's availability.
Interestingly, it was Toni Kroos who assisted Wirtz for his first international goal for the Die Mannschaft.
Despite having the likes of Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, the Los Blancos have been tracking Wirtz for some time now. The 14-time European champions have received only positive reports about him from their scouts and are likely to move ahead and sign him, multiple reports said.
Carlo Ancelotti and other office-bearers at the Spanish capital believe that the arrival of a ball-playing midfielder like Florian Wirtz, who can effortlessly make runs into the opposition penalty box and score, could help an overhaul of their performance in the middle of the park. The availability of a player like him would offer a different profile to the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Valverde, sources close to Real Madrid's coaching staff reportedly told ESPN.
However, Madrid will not make a move in the January window for the young German. The plan is to bring him to Santiago Bernabeau next summer, ESPN said.
This season, Wirtz have managed four goals and two assists from 10 Bundesliga games so far while he has scored three goals in four Champions League games.