Man City to launch sensational £125 million for superstar player despite him being Pep Guardiola's second choice

Manchester City are set to launch a £125 million pursuit of one of Europe's top stars despite Pep Guardiola insisting the club targeted Jude Bellingham.

It's been an extremely underwhelming season for Man City, with their four-season chokehold on the Premier League finally set to end at the hands of Liverpool.

Guardiola's side are at risk of only winning the Community Shield, with the FA Cup their only chance at silverware following their early Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.

With City set to have their worst season in recent times, it is crucial they bounce back next campaign, and it is believed a marquee signing is the perfect way to ensure success.

According to Defensa Central, Guardiola was desperate to convince Bellingham to leave Madrid this summer, however, it has proved impossible forcing City to look elsewhere.

With Bellingham out of the question, City have turned to Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz, with the report claiming a €150m (£125.5m) bid could be made in the summer.

Wirtz has been on City's radar for quite some time now, with the 21-year-old carrying his form from Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga campaign into Euro 2024 and beyond.

The German youngster has a contract at Leverkusen until 2027, and City would face competition from Bayern Munich for his signature if they are to launch a bid for the midfielder.

Florian Wirtz- Getty

David Ornstein gives 115 charges update

City are also clouded by the uncertainty of their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League over their 115 charges.

During his latest Q&A on The Athletic, David Ornstein provided an update on when a verdict can be expected.

He wrote: "People have been saying things like 'imminent', 'this week', 'tomorrow' for ages now, and that shows most of us simply don't know - probably only a small number involved in the process do.

"The expectation at Man City has been 'spring', and if that's the case, we're into that. However, it'd also mean we could be waiting until late June!"