Akliouche the priority at Leverkusen as McAtee gets alternative label, per BILD

Bayer Leverkusen are keen to dip into the French market for an attacking option.

According to Sport BILD, AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche is at the top of Bayer Leverkusen’s desired transfer list.

Leverkusen have been following him for a long time and he is now considered the first choice solution. Talks have been ongoing for months. 

However, a transfer for Akliouche was recently considered unrealistic as the Ligue 1 club demanded more than €70million.

Although the Rhinelanders have the money available after cashing in this summer, they will not invest such a sum in one player.

Now it seems possible that Akliouche could be available for less than €50million, because no top English club has yet offered more.

An alternative is Man City’s James McAtee, who Leverkusen had already reached an agreement with him in January, but Pep Guardiola vetoed the deal at the time.