Next Toni Kroos’ tipped to form Arsenal dream midfield with Declan Rice but there’s a catch

Florian Wirtz, the highly sought-after Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, has been tipped to potentially form an ideal midfield partnership with Declan Rice at Arsenal. The 21-year-old German star has attracted attention from top European clubs, including Manchester City and Real Madrid, after an outstanding season that helped Leverkusen secure an invincible Bundesliga title and following his strong performances in the Euro 2024 campaign.

Wirtz typically plays in an advanced No.10 role, a position usually held by Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard. However, former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, speaking on TNT Sports, suggested that Wirtz could evolve into a deeper playmaker as his career progresses, much like Toni Kroos did at Real Madrid. Hargreaves noted that Wirtz’s intelligence and versatility could allow him to control the tempo of games from a deeper position.

Hargreaves highlighted Wirtz’s impressive stats, which included over 15 goals and assists last season, praising him as a player who could improve any top team in Europe. He speculated that both Manchester City and Real Madrid are ideal destinations for Wirtz, but also mentioned that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would likely be eager to have the young talent in his squad.

Despite links to Premier League clubs, Spanish outlet *Marca* reported that there are already agreements in place that could see Wirtz move to Real Madrid next summer. These agreements include an understanding between the player, his representatives, and Leverkusen to keep him at the club for the current season, along with a verbal agreement on personal terms with Real Madrid. The transfer could potentially be valued at around £127 million (€150 million), but it remains to be seen whether the move will materialize next summer.