Sky Germany: Bayer Leverkusen join race for Serge Aurier transfer

Not sure how I missed this, but somehow I did. Serge Aurier looks more and more likely to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, and while AC Milan still looks like the main contender for his service, another club has apparently made overtures. According to Sky Germany (via Get German Football News) Bayer Leverkusen have also expressed interest in buying the Ivorian captain.

Aurier was the established starter for Jose Mourinho at right back last season and played virtually every minute he was available, but there have been numerous reports that Aurier wants out of the club. Milan has been sniffing around for a while, but apparently haven’t offered a transfer fee that is close enough to Spurs’ asking price to make a transfer viable.

But maybe Bayer will? The reports state that Spurs are asking for £18m, lower than the £23m they bought him for in 2017 but still a pretty good deal considering he’s entering the next-to-last year of his contract. Selling Aurier would leave Spurs with literally zero natural right backs in the side, but the position is apparently one of importance and priority with what’s left of the transfer window.

If AC Milan has been trying to low-ball on Aurier’s transfer fee, then the entrance of Bayer into the equation could mean some actual movement now, or at least it could cause Milan to stop faffing around and make a serious bid. Bidding wars do tend to play right into Daniel Levy’s hands. Not a whole lot of time left in the window, so let’s see where this goes.