Real Madrid hope to replace veteran midfielder Luka Modric with Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz next summer, a report has claimed.

Modric, who turned 39 in September, is expected to depart Madrid next summer after 13 trophy-laden years, and the Spanish side have long been preparing for life without the Croatian superstar.

According to AS, club officials have been following Leverkusen’s Wirtz for a number of years now, and they are ready to act on their interest in the summer of 2025.

CEO Jose Angel Sanchez and recruitment chief Juni Calafat are said to have been working behind the scenes to try kick-start the process of a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu for Wirtz, who is valued at a whopping €150m (£125.5m).

However, the fact his contract expires in 2027 is expected to see Leverkusen soften their stance on a sale by the time next summer arrives.

Perhaps complicating matters for Madrid is a recent report which claims that Wirtz, while interested in a move overseas, is currently favouring taking his talents to Bayern Munich, before venturing into another league later in his career.

Madrid and Bayern are by no means the only sides interested in Wirtz. Liverpool have been touted as potential suitors, while Manchester City are in a similar boat to Madrid in that they see Wirtz as a possible long-term heir to Kevin De Bruyne.

There has also been an ambitious enquiry from Barcelona, whose continued financial situation renders a move for Wirtz almost impossible.

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