Bayer Leverkusen is asking for €20 million for Aleix Garcia, as reported by Softfootball, amid significant interest from West Ham United.
The Hammers are in search of new players following a disappointing start to the Premier League season, which includes a loss to newly promoted Sunderland and a major defeat at home against Chelsea. Additionally, West Ham was eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Wolves just yesterday.
<p.Football expert Florian Plettenberg shared on his official X account that Leverkusen is not willing to part with the midfielder for a lower price. He stated:
West Ham have concrete interest in Aleix Garcia. The clubs are in contact, and figures have been discussed verbally, but there is no formal offer yet. #WHUFC
Leverkusen want at least around €20m for the 28 y/o midfielder.
The player is eager to leave the German club after the arrival of Dutch coach Erik Ten Hag. Notably, Garcia was signed by the Bundesliga side last summer for €18 million from Girona.
Last season, he was a key player under former manager Xabi Alonso, but with Alonso’s departure to Real Madrid, Ten Hag appears to have different plans, leaving Garcia’s role uncertain.
Leverkusen is set to acquire Ezequiel “Equi” Fernandez, intending to position him alongside captain Robert Andrich in midfield. This arrangement could push Garcia to a bench role, something he wishes to avoid, especially with the upcoming World Cup year.
The Hammers view Garcia as an ideal successor to Edson Álvarez, who transferred to Fenerbahce this summer. Garcia is known for his skills as a deep-lying playmaker, recognized for his exceptional passing, control, and ability to execute set-pieces, allowing him to control the game’s tempo and facilitate quick transitions.
Occasionally, Garcia plays as a box-to-box midfielder, effectively recycling possession and initiating attacks with accurate long passes and threatening free-kicks.
So far this season, Garcia has registered only one assist for Leverkusen, achieved during their first-round victory in the DFB Pokal against SG Sonnenhof Aspach.
