Ipswich close to agreement for Leverkusen’s Palacios after €22.5m bid

Ipswich Town are close to agreeing a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for midfielder Exequiel Palacios, according to a report on Tuesday evening. The transfer is described as contingent on the clubs finalising the remaining details.

As first reported by David Ornstein, Ipswich’s latest offer is worth €22.5 million plus a further €5 million in add-ons. If completed, the 27-year-old would sign a four-year contract.

The reporting indicates the negotiations are at an advanced stage rather than concluded. In practical terms, that suggests the clubs are broadly aligned on price and structure, with final points still to be settled before any agreement can be confirmed.

The same piece adds that Palacios would become the first World Cup winner to represent Ipswich should the move go through. That would make the signing a notable landmark for the club as well as a significant addition in midfield.

While headline figures and the proposed contract length have been set out, no timetable for completion has been specified and further detail on the add-ons has not been disclosed. Until the clubs finalise the agreement, the deal remains short of completion.

Palacios is currently with Leverkusen, operating in midfield, and the proposed package points to a permanent transfer rather than a loan. If the final steps are navigated, Ipswich would be securing a player with title-winning pedigree to strengthen their core options.