Bayer Leverkusen and Dortmund Fight to Retain Rising Talents Amid European Interest

Bayer Leverkusen is working to safeguard the future of 20-year-old attacker Ibrahim Maza as elite European clubs, led by Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur, step up their interest ahead of the transfer window. The Algeria international has emerged as one of the most exciting young creative players in German soccer, prompting Leverkusen to prepare a lucrative new contract to deter potential suitors and solidify his presence in the squad.

Leverkusen has made its position clear by stating an intention to resist any attempts to sign Maza midway through the season. Club officials have no desire to part ways with the versatile forward, whose technical proficiency, vision, and capacity to operate across the attacking line have earned widespread admiration. By presenting an upgraded long-term proposal, the Bundesliga club hopes to ward off external pressure and avoid mid-campaign disruptions to their squad.

The pursuit of Maza gained renewed urgency with the recent entry of Paris Saint-Germain. The French champions have begun internal assessments regarding potential attacking reinforcements after Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury. While PSG’s interest remains in the exploratory phase rather than active negotiations, the French side’s substantial financial power and sudden squad requirements could alter market dynamics if their approach formalizes during the January window.

English clubs are keeping close watch as well. Both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their monitoring of Maza, while Chelsea, Manchester City, and Aston Villa remain attentive to any shifts in his availability. Recruitment departments across London and Manchester have tracked his rapid development, recognizing that prising him away will require either an exceptional financial bid or a significant change in Leverkusen’s firm stance against a mid-season departure.

Maza is not the only Bundesliga prospect attracting heavy attention from abroad. Manchester City has positioned itself at the forefront of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Mathis Albert. The 17-year-old United States international has caught the eye of top European scouts, with the reigning Premier League champions already submitting a formal approach and preparing lucrative personal terms to convince the teenager to move to England.

City is reportedly prepared to match a valuation in the region of €20 million, or approximately $22.3 million, to secure the young American. Albert arrived at Dortmund in 2024 from the LA Galaxy academy and quickly made history as one of the youngest American players to feature in the Bundesliga. He has also scored at the senior international level for the United States, further elevating his profile across the continent despite experiencing limited first-team minutes under Dortmund manager Niko Kovač this season.

Despite the interest, Dortmund has stood firm by rebuffing all external overtures for Albert, including proposals for temporary loan departures. Club leadership remains confident about his developmental pathway and is working on an extension offer beyond his current contract, which runs through June of next year. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal also continue to monitor the situation, while Paris Saint-Germain previously approached former sporting director Sebastian Kehl regarding Albert in the summer of 2025.

Any immediate transfer for Albert faces structural constraints, as Premier League regulations prohibit English clubs from completing a permanent signing until a player turns 18, a milestone Albert reaches in May. As the European market intensifies, both Leverkusen and Dortmund face significant tests of resolve, seeking to lock down their most gifted young contributors before the continent's wealthiest clubs attempt to lure them away.