In a major development in the football transfer market, Manchester City and Real Madrid are poised for an intense battle to secure the signature of Bayer Leverkusen's rising star Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who has already earned 29 caps for Germany, has emerged as a top target for both European powerhouses.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City views Wirtz as the ideal long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne, while the player himself is reportedly inclined towards a move to Los Blancos. Bayern Munich could also join the pursuit, setting the stage for a high-stakes transfer saga.
In other transfer developments, Manchester United are exploring the possibility of bringing João Cancelo back to the Premier League. The 30-year-old Al Hilal full-back could strengthen United's right side, following their January acquisition of left-wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is showing confidence in veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, with plans to extend his contract until 2027. Despite the Polish forward being 36 years old, the club maintains a positive relationship with his representatives and expects a smooth negotiation process.
Manchester United are also looking to offload Casemiro's substantial £300,000-per-week wages. The 32-year-old midfielder, who has started just once in the team's last 11 matches before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, recently expressed his desire for more playing time under Ruben Amorim.
At AC Milan, Theo Hernández's future has become uncertain following a surprising January development. The French international, who had previously agreed to a contract renewal, was reportedly unsettled by the club's willingness to entertain an offer from Como.
In MLS news, Houston Dynamo are making moves to strengthen their squad, working on deals for midfielder Nico Lodeiro and right-back Michael Halliday. While Lodeiro's transfer appears promising but incomplete, terms for Halliday's move are already in place.
FC Cincinnati has also made headlines by completing a record-breaking MLS trade for Evander, demonstrating the growing financial muscle of American soccer.
