Man City 'targeting' shock alternative to Florian Wirtz who no-one expected to leave this summer

Manchester City are expected to hit the transfer market hard this summer after a trophyless season.

City lost to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, exacerbating an early exit from the Champions League and a substandard campaign in the Premier League.

With two games left, Pep Guardiola will be desperate to secure a place in Europe's premier club competition next season by finishing in the top five.

But rebuilding plans are underway and Man City are naturally aiming high with their target list.

Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is one of football's hottest properties and is reportedly in Guardiola's plans, but the German is understood to prefer the more traditional route of being poached by Bayern Munich.

City have identified an unexpected alternative, according to reports in Europe.

The transfer status of Spanish international Dani Olmo has been up in the air since he left RB Leipzig last summer, with Barcelona snapping him up but requiring a succession of exceptions to keep his registration active in La Liga in the face of the club's financial restrictions.

He could be on the move again in the coming months.

"While Manchester City remains extremely confident in the Florian Wirtz case and is doing everything possible to convince the German midfielder, Pep Guardiola hasn't forgotten Dani Olmo!" reports an excited Sky Sports CH.

"Considered an alternative option to the arrival of the Leverkusen prodigy, regular contacts have already taken place between the [Olmo's] entourage and [City] management, who know that given FC Barcelona's financial difficulties, reaching an agreement will be eminently easier than in the Florian Wirtz case.

Olmo has featured heavily for Barca this season (Image: Getty)

"As a result, the English directors have already prepared the groundwork for [Guardiola] to secure a modern number ten, capable of creating play, connecting the different zones, generating chances and, of course, converting actions into goals."

The report suggests a fee of around €60 million would be required for the 27-year-old Catalan, whose dream return to his boyhood club landed him a domestic treble and a whole load of fuss.

He became a league champion in a third country in the process and adding a fourth would be Guardiola's minimum target at City after a disappointing 2024-25.