Bayer Leverkusen eye Marseille Facundo Medina as €20m target

Bayer Leverkusen have opened formal talks with Olympique de Marseille over Argentine defender Facundo Medina, 27, after the French club set a €20 million price tag, reports Le Phocéen. The German side view the centre‑back as a key addition to shore up their back line.

Leverkusen’s pursuit reflects a clear need for defensive reinforcement, with the club seeking to strengthen a back line that has shown vulnerability this season. Adding an experienced international is seen as a strategic shift to improve their defensive solidity.

The interest is not new; Bayer have tracked Medina since his days at the Sang et Or, the nickname for RC Lens, and have long considered him a potential reinforcement for their defence.

Marseille’s management have not ruled out the defender’s departure, but they stress they will not sell him cheaply, insisting on a fee that matches the €20 million they paid to acquire him from RC Lens last summer.

Since joining OM a year ago, Medina has featured in 26 competitive matches for the French side, contributing a single assist, while earning 14 caps for the Argentine national side during that period.

His playing time has been hampered by several fitness setbacks over the past twelve months, a factor that both clubs have taken into account during the negotiation process.

The €20 million demand reflects the broader market trend of clubs valuing experienced centre‑backs at premium levels, especially when the price mirrors the amount originally spent by Marseille to secure the player from RC Lens.

If the two sides reach an agreement, the transfer would underline Bayer Leverkusen’s willingness to invest heavily in defensive talent amid a competitive European market.

Overall, the deal would highlight the German club’s strategic push for defensive reinforcement while illustrating the premium placed on proven international defenders in today’s transfer landscape. Ongoing talks must still overcome Marseille’s firm price stance and Medina’s recent fitness concerns.