Negotiations between Bayer Leverkusen and Royal Union SG over Victor Boniface’s move to the Bundesliga have reached an advanced stage.
Sacha Tavolieri reports the 22-year-old has already given Die Werkself the go-ahead over personal terms, and it’s now up to the Belgians to approve the transfer.
Leverkusen will have to allocate around €15 million to get the deal over the line. But money shouldn’t be a problem, particularly in light of Moussa Diaby’s imminent switch to Aston Villa.
Despite facing stiff competition in the shape of Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, Villa are on the cusp of landing the Frenchman for a club-record fee of €50m plus €10m in add-ons.
Over the past few years, the 24-year-old has been among the Germans’ most prolific forwards and among the quickest, if not the fastest player, in the Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso couldn’t have let Diaby leave without finding a proper replacement, and Boniface seems to be his choice after a decent first season at Royale Union.
After tearing Norwegian Eliteserien backlines apart during his three-year stint at Bodo/Glimt, the Nigerian joined the Belgian outfit last summer for just over €2m.
Twenty-two goals and 12 assists from 55 appearances later, Boniface’s stock has increased tenfold as the Belgians prepare to make a hefty profit from his long-anticipated departure.
Boniface might have caught Alonso’s eye during last season’s Europa League, where he emerged as one of the competition’s standout performers.
He scored six times in nine starts, including an opening goal in a 1-1 draw during the first leg of Royale Union’s quarter-final tie against Leverkusen.
Although Die Werkself thumped Alexander Blessin’s side 4-1 in the return leg to book a semi-final date, only to bow out to Jose Mourinho’s Roma, Boniface seems to have left a telling impression on Alonso.
If everything goes according to plan, he could become the club’s fourth summer signing after the likes of Alex Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka and Jonas Hofman touched down at the BayArena.
