Manchester City are preparing for the likely departure of Bernardo Silva, whose contract expires this summer, and have set their sights on Ibrahim Maza, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen.
According to Sky Sports and several sources including Florian Plettenberg, the Berlin-born player of Algerian origin has impressed this season with 5 goals and 6 assists in 38 matches across all competitions. His performances in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League, combined with his technique, vision, and ability to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s system, have caught the attention of City’s scouts, who have been monitoring him closely.
A profile tailor-made for the Sky Blues
Born in Berlin and developed at Hertha BSC, Maza joined Leverkusen last summer for €12 million, signing a deal until 2030. Now an Algerian international, he could follow in the footsteps of Riyad Mahrez and Rayan Aït-Nouri, who joined City in 2025 for €40 million and is already part of the squad.
Guardiola reportedly sees him as the ideal successor to Silva (31), offering a slightly more physical profile while maintaining high technical quality. City also benefit from strong ties with his agency, which represents Omar Marmoush, signed this winter.
Leverkusen holding firm at €70 million
However, Bayer Leverkusen have no intention of letting their gem go cheaply. An initial approach from City has already been rejected, with the German club demanding at least €70 million — well above his €40 million valuation on Transfermarkt.
They also turned down a €35 million offer from Atlético de Madrid during the winter window and are betting on his value increasing further ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where he could shine with Algeria.
Competition heating up for a hot transfer target
For now, Manchester City are closely monitoring the situation without making a decisive move, aware that competition could intensify if Maza maintains his current level.
With players like Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Phil Foden as options for the No.10 role, his potential integration remains to be defined. However, his talent already makes him one of the most closely watched transfer stories of the summer. Leverkusen, a cornerstone of their project, will stand firm unless an exceptional offer arrives.