Sport Bild (via @bayer04Xtra) reports that Como’s former Real Madrid player, Nico Paz, is the strongest candidate to replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Through a buyback clause worth around €8m, Real Madrid are set to bring the Serie A Young Player of the Year back to the club, after only a year away, so he can play in the Club World Cup. After the inaugural edition of the tournament, Madrid will look to sell the 20-year-old on.
Paz wants to play regularly for a coach who can help him develop even further, and in the Champions League. All the things that Leverkusen can offer next season. The 20-year-old has already stated that he will not stay at Como this season.
Madrid will demand around €30m for Paz, which will not be a problem for Leverkusen once they sell Wirtz. The LaLiga side could also look to include a buy-back clause in the deal, similar to when Dani Carvajal swapped the Bernabeu for the BayArena. What also plays into Leverkusen’s hands is that they were so cooperative with Madrid when the Spanish side came for Xabi Alonso.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
