German international Leon Goretzka, 31, and FC Bayern München are expected to end their association in the summer as the club intends to focus on younger players, with Atlético Madrid, FC Arsenal, and AC Mailand having already shown interest. According to 'Sport Bild', Bayer 04 Leverkusen has also placed Goretzka on its list. The club is searching for a new leader following Granit Xhaka's departure last summer. The publication reports that Leverkusen officials have made initial contact with the former Schalke player's advisors.
While Goretzka is said to prefer a move to the Premier League and his annual salary of ten million euros could present a problem for Bayer, the club did not receive a definitive rejection. A personal meeting between Leverkusen's officials and the player has not yet taken place. Goretzka, who has been with Bayern since July 2018, has a contract until June 2026 and has earned 67 caps for his country, scoring 15 goals. In the current Bundesliga season, he has scored two goals in 19 appearances. Transfermarkt estimates his market value to be €15.00m. Recent reports regarding a potential transfer fee have varied, with Bayern Munich's asking price for a January transfer reportedly around €20 million, while offers from Atlético Madrid were said to be in the €2-5 million range.
