Spanish player Alejandro Grimaldo is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen and is expected to join Atlético. The Werkself are now apparently targeting a Bayern player as a replacement.
It’s already clear that Leverkusen will only agree to let the technically gifted Spaniard leave if, on the one hand, the transfer fee is right and, on the other hand, a replacement is found. But with Grimaldo’s departure now imminent, Leverkusen must have already given the matter clear and concrete thought.
According to a report in BILD, the Werkself has a player on their list to replace Grimaldo who is currently under contract with FC Bayern—though not for much longer. The player in question is Raphael Guerreiro.
Will Guerreiro move to Leverkusen?
The Portuguese player’s departure from FC Bayern has been a foregone conclusion for some time. With his contract set to expire this summer, Guerreiro will leave the record champions. Recently, there have even been rumors that he is considering retiring.
Rumors about the Portuguese player returning to his home country have also persisted. Among others, Benfica has expressed interest, but nothing concrete has materialized yet.
Apparently, this is partly because Guerreiro wanted to keep all his options open.
Leverkusen is looking for a leader
In any case, the player is said to be a very good fit for Bayer’s philosophy. The Werkself aims to create a good mix of young talent and experienced players in its squad. Since Grimaldo, one of the team’s leaders, is leaving, it only makes sense to bring in some experience.
In addition, the Spaniard is one of the most technically gifted players in the Bundesliga; he can handle tight situations and even pop up in the center at times. All of this applies to Guerreiro as well. According to BILD, the salary is not an issue for Bayer. However, no final decision has been made yet.