Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has warned interested clubs that Florian Wirtz will not be allowed to leave the Bundesliga champions this summer for "less than €150m (£128m)".
The 20-year-old has been in outstanding form for Leverkusen during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring 17 goals and registering 18 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions.
Wirtz has three goals and four assists in the Europa League this season, while he has managed three goals and four assists in five outings in the German Cup, with Xabi Alonso's side looking to win both competitions.
The Germany international has also been key in Leverkusen's title-winning Bundesliga campaign, netting 11 goals and providing 10 assists in 29 appearances, including a hat-trick against Werder Bremen on Sunday, with a 5-0 success securing the trophy for the club.
The attacker has a contract until June 2027, but his future is currently the subject of much speculation, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona said to be keen to sign.
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Carro said in an interview with Marca: "No one is unsellable, but for less than €150m (£128m), Wirtz is not leaving."
Wirtz came through the youth system at FC Koln before moving to Leverkusen in 2020, and he has represented the club on 144 occasions, scoring 40 goals and registering 48 assists.
Manchester United and Liverpool are also believed to be interested in the attacker, but last month, his agent and father played down claims that the German could be on the move.
"Florian has a contract in Leverkusen until 2027," Hans-Joachim Wirtz told Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger. "That is roughly how long he will stay at Leverkusen. There's no answer what will happen when. We should wait for the next two years and then we'll see what happens.
"Florian is very lucky to have Xabi Alonso, who brings a lot of qualities. He has a great relationship with the whole team. It's the right coach at the right time."
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Leverkusen will struggle to keep Wirtz on a long-term basis
Leverkusen have already won one trophy this season and are on course for two more, while there will be a return to the Champions League for the club during the 2024-25 campaign.
At this stage of his career, playing regularly, there is no reason for Wirtz, who is set to represent Germany at Euro 2024, to seek a transfer.
However, a player of his ability could arguably operate at any club in world football, and the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man United and Liverpool are likely to come calling in the not too distant future.
There will be no transfer this summer, with Barcelona unable to afford him and Real Madrid putting a lot of money into a deal for Kylian Mbappe.
However, if Leverkusen struggle with the added demands next season, Wirtz might feel that it is time to move on, with a transfer in 2025 a real possibility despite the words of his agent and father.
Matt Law
