Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios is reportedly open to joining Ipswich Town. (Image: PA)
Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios is reportedly open to joining Ipswich Town. (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town transfer target Exequiel Palacios has reportedly handed in a transfer request at Bayer Leverkusen.
The EADT and Ipswich Star understands the Blues, having had a €15m offer for the 41-cap Argentina international knocked back, have cooled their interest after being quoted a €35m price.
Previous reports from Germany suggested that the 27-year-old wouldn't be keen on a switch to the newly-promoted Blues, but the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (Cologne City Gazette) now states that he 'can now imagine a transfer to Ipswich Town'.
It's stated that Palacios has now 'clearly formulated his desire to change [clubs]' and 'lowered his financial demands'.
Palacios has made 185 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen. He played an important role when they won the Bundesliga title in 2023/24, but was restricted to 12 league starts last season due an adductor injury.
He made three sub appearances when Argentina won the World Cup in 2022 and failed to get on the pitch as part of the squad that reached the final this summer.
Town boss Gary O'Neil has signed 10 players for a combined £100m+ already this summer, but recently insisted 'the plan is to do quite a bit more'.
Chairman Mark Ashton told the EADT and Ipswich Star that the club's ambitious American have told him to push to the limits of financial fair play rules, adding: "We've got irons in a number of fires and I expect us to be fairly active right up until the end of the window."
Ipswich's midfield unit currently comprises of summer signings Sasa Lukic (£9m, Fulham) and Florentino Luis (£16m, Burnley), plus rehabbing Championship promotion-winning pairing Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor, plus Cameron Humphreys.
The Blues take on Bundesliga club Union Berlin, in Germany, in their final pre-season friendly this afternoon (2.30pm BST).