Leverkusen Chief: Palacios Talks Exist But No Agreement
Saturday, 22nd Aug 2026 22:06
Bayer Leverkusen sporting managing director Simon Rolfes has confirmed that the Blues and the Bundesliga club remain in talks regarding Argentina international midfielder Exequiel Palacios.
Town made an initial offer of €15 million (£12.8 million) for the Argentina international, which was swiftly rebuffed by Leverkusen, who set their price at €35 million (£29.9 million).
Earlier this week, the Blues made a new bid understood to have been just over €20 million (£17 million), which again was rejected.
Rolfes has confirmed that Town have now made a further bid, which some reports claim totals €30 million (£25.7 million) including add-ons.
Speaking about the Blues’ interest in Palacios and Ernest Poku’s potential move to Fiorentina in Serie A, Rolfes said: “What both cases have in common: There is no agreement. Talks exist, that's true, in both cases. But with both, it's not clear that it's happening.”
Commenting on Town’s latest offer, Rolfes said: “It’s indeed right that they move a bit, but not the way we imagine it.”
If the move were to be agreed, Palacios would be the most eye-catching addition of an already very busy summer at Portman Road, with the outlay having already hit the £150 million mark, and probably the highest profile signing in the club’s history.
The midfielder, who began his career with River Plate in his home country, won the World Cup in 2022 and was in the side which lost this year’s final last month. In total, he has won 41 full caps.
He is contracted to Leverkusen, with whom he won the Bundesliga in 2023/24, until the summer of 2030.
_Photo: Stefan Koops - EYE4IMAGES via Reuters Connect_