Leverkusen Could Cash In on Ernest Poku as Sunderland Weigh €25m Move

Bayer Leverkusen have another squad decision to make, with Ernest Poku emerging as a potential departure before the end of the transfer window.

According to BILD, Sunderland have been courting the 22-year-old, with a transfer fee of around €25 million being discussed.

The Premier League club, however, has yet to decide whether to push ahead with the move.

For Leverkusen, the situation is less about Poku suddenly becoming surplus because of his performances and more about the sheer size of the squad.

Poku only arrived from AZ Alkmaar last summer for a reported €10m plus add-ons, signing a contract until 2030. His first season in Germany produced five goals and eight assists in 44 appearances, giving Leverkusen a useful return from a player who was still adapting to Bundesliga football.

He also showed considerable versatility, featuring on both wings and occasionally in a more central attacking role. His biggest weapons remain his pace and ability to attack space, which make him an intriguing fit for Leverkusen's recruitment model.

But one year later, the competition for places has become much tougher.

Leverkusen are still waiting on the Moussa Diaby deal, while the club is simultaneously trying to reduce a squad that BILD describes as oversized. Poku is not the only player whose future is being assessed: Martin Terrier, Malik Tillman and Victor Boniface are also facing different degrees of uncertainty.

That makes Sunderland's interest particularly interesting.

A €25m sale would give Leverkusen a substantial profit on a player they signed only 12 months ago, while also freeing up a place in an increasingly crowded attacking group. There have also been reports of Nottingham Forest interest, suggesting Poku's situation is not simply a case of Bayer trying to find a buyer.

The question is whether Sunderland are willing to pay the price.

From their perspective, Poku fits the profile of a young, explosive attacker with room to develop. But €25m could be a significant investment for a player who has only completed one season in the Bundesliga and is still developing his end product.

For Leverkusen, meanwhile, the calculation is straightforward: if Poku is not going to be a regular under Carles Martínez, €25m is difficult to ignore.

The final decision will ultimately depend on Sunderland.

According to BILD, Die Werkself need to trim their squad as more attacking decisions are still to come. Poku could become one of the more interesting sales of the final weeks of the window.