Christian Kofane says he would be open to a move to the Premier League in the future – but remains committed to Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the new season.
The 20-year-old striker joined Leverkusen from Spanish second-tier outfit Albacete last summer and showed several glimpses of his undoubted promise across an encouraging debut season in the Bundesliga.
While he is yet to establish himself as a guarantee starter for Leverkusen, Kofane finished the campaign with a tally of seven goals and nine assists in his opening 44 appearances appearances for the club.
Arguably Kofane’s most notable contribution came during the last-16 stage of the Champions League, when he caught the eye in both legs against the eventual runners-up Arsenal.
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The young centre-forward more than held his own against Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba and was perhaps unfortunate not to score in the second meeting, with David Raya producing a stunning save to deny him late on at the Emirates.
Subsequent reports emanating out of Germany claimed Arsenal were so enamoured by Kofane’s showings that they were even discussing a summer move – rumours that were seemingly confirmed by the player’s agent Eric Depolo.
‘Yes, Arsenal’s interest is genuine,’ Depolo told Daily Arsenal.
‘The manager [Mikel Arteta] likes him very much.’
Asked which other clubs had expressed an interest in Kofane, Depolo replied: ‘Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Brentford, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.’
Depolo suggested the presence of both Arteta and Saliba in north London had put Arsenal in ‘pole position’ to strike a deal for the Cameroon international.
‘I think it is too early to say [which club is leading the race],’ he explained.
‘But due to the fact that the player speaks Spanish, like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I would say Arsenal are in pole position.
‘There is contact between me and Arsenal. But their focus right now is to win the league – from there everything will start moving.’
Depolo claimed Arsenal would be acquiring a ‘complete’ striker for the next decade should they secure a deal for his client.
He added: ‘He is a €100million (£85m) player. With Kofane, Arsenal will have a top striker for the next ten years.’
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In the intervening months, Everton are believed to have stepped up their interest in Kofane, reportedly enquiring over a deal for the attacker.
‘I can certainly imagine it, yes. It’s one of the best leagues in the world,’ Kofane told German newspaper Kicker in response to speculation of an impending move to England.
‘But I want to take it step by step.
‘I’m young and still have big plans with Bayer Leverkusen.’
Kofane underlined that he remains ‘very comfortable’ at Leverkusen and is not even considering the possibility of upping sticks in search of opportunities elsewhere.
‘Bayer Leverkusen a great club that has given me a great opportunity and a lot of confidence,’ he went on.
‘I feel very comfortable here.’
Kofane’s current contract with Leverkusen runs through to June 2029.
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