English champions Manchester City are reportedly prepared to fork out €50 million for Bayer Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick.
As per reports from Fichajes, Manchester City are ready to intensify their pursuit of Patrik Schick. The Bayer Leverkusen striker has been included in the club’s shortlist for top attacking targets in the summer, a list that also includes other stars such as Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland.
But amid growing worries over Haaland’s hefty wage demands, release clause and agent commissions, Manchester City are looking into the possibility of signing his fellow Bundesliga striker Schick. The report adds that the reigning English champions are even prepared to fork out €50 million in the summer, which they believe will be enough to convince Leverkusen to sanction the sale.
Formerly of AS Roma, Schick has flourished in the Bundesliga since his move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. He netted only nine goals in his debut campaign, but after an excellent UEFA Euro 2020 campaign with the Czech Republic, the 25-year-old has been performing at a whole new level.
In just 15 league matches, the prolific forward has netted 17 goals and is second only to Robert Lewandowski in the scoring chart. His incredible display in front of goal has not gone unnoticed, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham among the clubs interested in his services.
Among the three, only Manchester City appear to have shown a real desire to snap up the Czech international in the summer. It seems Schick has been identified as an ideal replacement for Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres, who recently joined Barcelona on a permanent deal.
Their departures have created a massive void in the club’s offensive unit, and while Manchester City are unlikely to splash the cash on a new goalscorer in January, they could come out all guns blazing in the summer transfer window. Schick, to that end, remains one of their top targets, although the 25-year-old won’t be an easy target for the Citizens.
Unlike Dortmund, Leverkusen are in a much more comfortable position when it comes to keeping hold of their star player. They have no immediate need of a financial injection, whereas Schick himself has no desire to leave the club just yet. So it won’t be surprising to see Die Werkself reject Manchester City’s €50 million advances and hold out for a higher offer, especially if the player maintains his current form during the Ruckrunde.
(Featured image courtesy of Tadeas Bednarz/Wikimedia Commons)
Patrik Schick is not level for City, while Erling Haaland, Vlahovic, Kane. Lew…are.