Reported Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton target Mohamed Simakan wants to join RB Leipzig in the summer, Strasbourg president Marc Keller told France Bleu.
One of the worst-kept secrets in European football is now public knowledge.
Talks between Simakan and Leipzig have been going on for some time now and, according to reports, the highly-rated centre-back is expected to undergo a medical before signing a five-year contract with the Bundesliga giants in the near future.
20-year-old Simakan has been lined up to replace the much-admired Dayot Upamecano at the Red Bull Arena, with Leipzig fully aware that a bargain £38 million release-clause will not go un-triggered for long.
As negotiations over Simakan’s exit reach a crescendo, Strasbourg have broken their silence at last.
And it is not good news for his many Premier League suitors.
“We’re probably going to use a sale to help us get through this (financial) crisis. It should be Mohamed, although for now nothing is done,” Keller said.
“We discuss. We have a very good relationship with the German leaders in Leipzig. We still had them on the phone (on Tuesday). Momo wants to go there.
“His agents are working very well on this. I hope that we will manage to finalize a deal in the coming days.”
Tuttomercatoweb reported recently that Wolves and Everton are keen on the £18 million-rated Simakan, while his agent admitted interest from Aston Villa (Calciomercato).
Whether Simakan can emulate the impact of fellow Frenchman Upamecano at Leipzig, however, only time will tell.
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