- Leverkusen still in the market for a new winger
- Have identified Monaco attacker as top target
- Ligue 1 side demanding €70m amid other interest
It has been an intriguing summer at Bayer Leverkusen, who not only lost head coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, but also witnessed the departures of big names such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Granit Xhaka. The 2023-24 Bundesliga champions appointed Erik ten Hag as their new manager, and are trying their best to assemble a squad with which the Dutchman can fight for titles. Now, per a report from Bild Leverkusen are interested in signing Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche to reinforce their attack.
Leverkusen have been tracking the Frenchman for months, and he is now seen as a leading candidate to bolster their attack. A move once deemed unrealistic due to Monaco’s steep valuation — reportedly over €70 million (£60m/$81m) — may now be back on the table. While Leverkusen have the financial resources, they have been unwilling to commit such a large fee to a single player.
However, the situation appears to have shifted. With no Premier League giants stepping forward with a substantial offer, Monaco may be forced to revise their demands. Reports indicate that the Ligue 1 side could now be open to negotiations for a fee below €50m (£43m/$58m), potentially paving the way for a breakthrough in talks.
Akliouche’s performances during the 2024-25 season, where he scored five goals and registered 10 assists across 32 league games, caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs, such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester United, too, were credited with an interest. However, in May, after Les Rouge et Blanc sealed qualification to the Champions League, the 23-year-old seemingly ruled out a summer departure. “I am under contract at Monaco and I hope that I will be here next season, why not?”, he said at the time.
Having already made some good acquisitions, Ten Hag will hope his employers can get the deal for Akliouche over the line. Die Werkself will kick-off their 2025-26 campaign on August 15, when they clash against fourth-tier side Sonnehof Grossaspach in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
