Manchester City renew interest in €70M-rated Bayer Leverkusen midfielder amid Sandro Tonali doubts

Manchester City have reopened their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s 20-year-old attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza, according to multiple reports, as the Premier League giants brace for the post-season departure of Bernardo Silva and reassess their midfield options.

Leverkusen, however, have already rebuffed early overtures and slapped a €70 million valuation on the Germany-born Algeria international, who only last summer signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga club after arriving from 2. Bundesliga side Hertha BSC for a reported €12 million.

City first monitored Maza ahead of that 2025 switch but were beaten to his signature. Eight months on, the treble-chasing English side have returned with fresh interest, hoping to add the youngster to a shopping list that also features Hertha’s Kennet Eichhorn, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.

Leverkusen have shown no inclination to sell. They rejected Atlético Madrid’s €35 million approach in January and, per Algerian outlet Dzair Sport Plus and 4-4-2 (via Sport Witness), have now set their sights on double that figure. Transfermarkt currently lists Maza’s market value at €40 million.

Maza has started 26 of 38 competitive matches for Xabi Alonso’s side this term, scoring five goals and setting up six. One of those assists came in a 2-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City in November, a moment the player himself labelled the highlight of his Leverkusen career so far.

With his contract running until 2030, Leverkusen view the Berlin native as a cornerstone of their long-term project and will not entertain offers unless the buying club meets their lofty asking price.

City, fresh from lifting the Carabao Cup and still battling Arsenal on two domestic fronts, are determined to reinforce an engine room that will lose Portuguese playmaker Silva at season’s end. Whether they are prepared to meet Leverkusen’s €70 million demand for Maza remains to be seen, but the tug-of-war for one of Europe’s most coveted young midfielders is only just beginning.