Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly accelerated their interest in Bayer Leverkusen star Ibrahim Maza, as per TEAMtalk.
After letting Florian Wirtz join Liverpool last year, Die Werkself decided to replace the German international by purchasing the 20-year-old from Hertha Berlin.
He showed glimpses of his qualities in the Bundesliga last term, making 11 goal contributions across all competitions. However, Maza has shown signs of development this season, scoring three goals and registering as many assists in all tournaments.
Having proven his qualities in club football, the youngster has secured his place in the Algerian national team.
Now, TEAMtalk state that Arsenal and Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Maza and have been monitoring his development closely before making a potential swoop.
Moreover, Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa have been keeping tabs on him. On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain have identified Maza as a serious option to replace Khvicha Kvaratshelia, who is set to remain sidelined for an extended period owing to a serious knee problem.
Despite growing interest in Maza, the report state that Leverkusen have no intention of letting him leave, with his existing deal set to run until 2030. They are even planning to hand him a fresh contract with a salary hike, with the player valued at around £42m by Transfermarkt.
Battle
Maza is a technically gifted right-footed creative midfielder but can provide cover in the box-to-box role. Furthermore, he can be deployed on the flank if needed.
Tottenham currently have Xavi Simons, James Maddison and Conor Gallagher as options to deploy in the CAM role. However, the Dutchman has been out due to a serious knee problem, while Maddison has just returned from a lengthy injury absence.
On the other hand, Arsenal currently have Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze as No.10 options. Moreover, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman can provide cover in this area if needed. So, the Gunners don’t need to add further depth to this position unless anyone leaves.
Maza is a talented player and possesses high potential. Therefore, he might be a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham should they eventually manage to secure his services in January or next summer.
