Man City have taken the lead in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports.

The Citizens had made a good start to the new Premier League season with Guardiola’s side winning seven of their first nine games of the new season.

However, Man City have now lost four games in a row in all competitions, including two Premier League defeats, which has seen them drop to second in the table and Guardiola’s men are now five points behind leaders Liverpool.

Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Man City.

Widespread reports earlier this week claimed that Guardiola has now signed a new one-year contract extension with Man City with the deal set to be made official in the coming days.

The AthleticSam Lee first revealed the news on Tuesday night, writing:

“Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has agreed a new one-year contract extension with an option for a further year.

The 53-year-old’s existing City contract was due to expire at the end of this season and if the new contract is fulfilled it would take Guardiola over a decade in charge of the club.

“It had been suggested that Guardiola may leave City at the end of the campaign along with director of football Txiki Begiristain, whose departure – and the arrival of Hugo Viana from Sporting CP as his replacement – was confirmed in October.”

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And it has brought clarity to Guardiola’s future in some much-needed positive news amid the hearing into the club’s alleged breach of the Premier League’s financial fair play rules and speculation that some players could leave.

Reports in Spain now claim Man City are “going crazy” following the news that Guardiola will stay and are “preparing an astronomical offer that could reach €120m (£100m)” – which would equal the amount they paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish – for Wirtz.

Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are also interested in the Germany international but Man City “appear to have taken the lead” for the Bayer Leverkusen star.

It is understood the Premier League champions are “willing to offer a contract that not only meets Wirtz’s financial expectations, but also guarantees him a leading role in the team”.

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