North London rivals are scouting Bayer Leverkusen’s and Algeria's starlet as his tactical flexibility and international form ignite a multi-club transfer battle for the gifted 20-year-old playmaker.
Ibrahim Maza's rapid rise at Bayer Leverkusen is beginning to attract serious attention from the Premier League, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur now among the clubs monitoring the 20-year-old.
According to TEAMtalk, both London clubs have stepped up their interest in Maza and have watched the Algerian international this season as they assess his development and potential availability. Chelsea, Manchester City, and Aston Villa are also understood to remain attentive to his progress.
Maza has quickly established himself as one of the Bundesliga's most interesting players. His ability to operate between the lines, find pockets of space, create chances, and carry the ball forward has made him increasingly important to the team.
His versatility is another part of his appeal. Maza can operate as an attacking midfielder but is also capable of playing deeper or from wider positions, giving him the tactical flexibility that Premier League clubs increasingly value.
His development has also continued on the international stage. Maza recently produced a decisive performance for Algeria against Zambia, scoring and assisting in a 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory. TEAMtalk notes that he has already contributed a goal and an assist for Leverkusen this season.
But, Maza does not look ready to rush his development.
Despite the growing Premier League interest, there is currently little indication that Maza is actively looking to force a move away from Leverkusen.
That may actually be the most interesting part of his situation.
Maza, according to our sources, is developing step by step. Rather than rushing toward the biggest possible move at 20, he appears focused on continuing his development at Die Werkself, where he has become one of the club's faces.
Leverkusen are placing significant trust in Maza to take responsibility and help drive the team forward, with the club increasingly viewing him as the player who could eventually fill the creative void left by Florian Wirtz or follow the path Kai Havertz took at the BayArena.
For that reason, a move to Arsenal or Tottenham this summer would not necessarily feel like the obvious next step.
That could change quickly, however.
If Maza continues his current trajectory over the next year, his situation could look very different. Another season of Bundesliga football, more European experience and further development with Algeria could turn today's interest into a much more serious transfer battle.
Leverkusen are also likely to have their own say.
TEAMtalk previously reported that the club views Maza as an important part of their long-term project, meaning Premier League interest is unlikely to automatically translate into a departure.
For now, the story is less about Maza being on the verge of joining Arsenal or Tottenham and more about the Premier League's biggest clubs recognising his trajectory early.
At 20, there is still plenty of development ahead of him. If he continues progressing at Leverkusen over the next 12 months, the interest surrounding him could become considerably louder.
