Aston Villa were among several Premier League clubs who attempted to sign Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane during the summer transfer window, according to reports in Germany. Sport Witness, relaying a story from Bild, states that Villa, Newcastle United and Everton each tabled offers of around €50m for the 20-year-old before the window closed on 1 September.
The Cameroon international is said to have rejected all three approaches in order to stay with the Bundesliga side. Bild reports that Leverkusen intend to reward his decision to turn down moves to England by offering improved terms on his current deal, which runs until 2029.
Kofane joined Leverkusen from Albacete Balompié in July 2025. The German club initially planned to send him out on loan but changed course after he impressed during pre-season. He went on to record seven goals and nine assists across 44 appearances in his debut campaign.
Negotiations over a new contract are described as being in their final stages. Talks between Leverkusen and his agents, Eric Depolo and Erkan Alkan, have been ongoing for several weeks, with an agreement expected shortly. The proposed extension would run until 2031 and raise his salary to €4m per year.
Crucially for any future suitors, Bild adds that the fresh deal will not contain a release clause. Leverkusen view Kofane as a player whose value could eventually reach €100m, a significant jump on the €40m valuation currently listed by Transfermarkt.
With the summer window now shut until January 2027, Villa cannot pursue any fresh targets in the immediate term. Should Unai Emery’s recruitment team still hold an interest in the forward, any renewed approach would face a substantially higher asking price when business resumes in the new year.
