Ipswich Town's formal bid for Scaloneta star Palacios sparks Premier League race

Exequiel Palacios, the 27‑year‑old Argentine midfielder of Bayer Leverkusen, has received a formal offer from Ipswich Town, marking a concrete step in what the Scaloneta legend hopes will be a move to the Premier League.

Formal offer confirmed by Fabrizio Romano

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Ipswich Town presented a formal bid to the German club on Sunday, turning previous rumours into a tangible negotiation. Romano’s confirmation adds weight to the claim that the summer market for the Tucumán‑born player has intensified.

Other Premier League and Bundesliga clubs watching

Romano also revealed, “En la carrera hay cuatro clubes más, de la Premier League y la Bundesliga,” indicating that four additional clubs from England’s top flight and Germany are prepared to enter the bidding war if Ipswich’s deal stalls. While the exact identities and amounts were not disclosed, the statement underscores the breadth of interest surrounding Palacios.

El contexto includes interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and a personal link to Xabi Alonso, Chelsea’s manager, who coached Palacios at Leverkusen during the 2023/24 Bundesliga‑winning season.

Financial backdrop and salary cut

Following Bayer Leverkusen’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, Palacios agreed to a roughly 25 % salary reduction on his contract that runs until June 2030, as reported by the German daily . This cut is cited as a key factor behind his desire to leave.

According to , his agent has formally submitted a transfer request to the club authorities, and the circulating figure for a potential sale hovers around €40 million, with some German sources mentioning a €50 million threshold to trigger negotiations.

Player’s preferences and Ipswich’s standing

Palacios has expressed a priority to join a major Premier League side, and the newly promoted Ipswich Town, fresh from the Championship, does not fully satisfy his ambitions. Nonetheless, the formal offer places his name officially on the table.

His recent season was marred by a 22‑match adductor injury, but after recovery he logged 25 appearances (17 starts) for Leverkusen, totaling 1,580 minutes and providing one assist.

World Cup 2026 experience

Palacios was part of Argentina’s squad at the 2026 World Cup in North America, featuring for 90 minutes against Jordan in the group stage, playing out of position at right‑back. Argentina reached the final, losing to the eventual champions.