Bayer Leverkusen have called Bournemouth to enquire on the availability of Justin Kluivert, talkSPORT understands.
The German side are shortlisting replacements for Florian Wirtz, who is set to join Liverpool for an initial £100m with a further £16m in add-ons.
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Leverkusen’s new manager, Erik ten Hag, who previously led Manchester United, is reportedly spearheading efforts to sign Kluivert. He sees Kluivert as the ideal candidate to replace Wirtz.
Bournemouth has informed Leverkusen that Kluivert is not available for transfer. Nevertheless, owner Bill Foley has previously indicated he won’t unnecessarily block player departures if an appropriate offer is made.
The Cherries have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid this summer, and Milos Kerkez is expected to be Liverpool’s next addition.
Additionally, Bournemouth might be willing to entertain offers for Illia Zabarnyi, who is attracting attention from Paris Saint-Germain, and Antoine Semenyo, who is also on the radar of several Premier League clubs.
Unlike Huijsen, none of these players, Kluivert included, have release clauses.
Kluivert, 26, is contracted until 2028.
He scored 12 goals and managed six assists in the Premier League last season as Andoni Iraola’s side finished with a club-record Premier League tally of 56 points.
Bournemouth have not set an asking price, but if they did choose to sell it’s believed Kluivert would likely cost well over double the £9.6m fee the club paid to Roma in June 2023.
Ten Hag is playing a key role in recruitment at Leverkusen this summer having replaced Xabi Alonso and it’s understood he views Kluivert as well-suited to his system and capable of adding much-needed goals and assists due to Wirtz’s absence.
It remains to be seen whether a deal is possible, or Leverkusen return with a bid, but Bournemouth made it clear their firm preference is to keep hold of the versatile Dutch attacker.
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Kluivert is the son of the legendary Patrick, and initially broke through at Ajax.
Stints at Roma, Leipzig, Nice and Valencia followed, but it’s been under Andoni Iraola where he’s really found his feet.
A goal return of 13 is his career best, and 21 goal contributions in all competitions eclipses a previous high of 15 at Ajax in 2017/18.
The Amsterdam-born talent also secured a piece of Premier League history during the 2024/25 campaign, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick of penalties in a 4-2 win over Wolves in December.
Kluivert’s form has also seen him break into Ronald Koeman’s Dutch squad, featuring in both of their June fixtures to make it five international caps in 2025 – his most in a calendar year.
For Leverkusen, coughing up the necessary cash for Kluivert shouldn’t be an issue after their massive sales.
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Making close to £140m alone from selling Frimpong and Wirtz to Liverpool will have filled the bank for the 2024 Bundesliga champions.
They’ve also reportedly received bonus payments from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid for Jonathan Tah and Xabi Alonso in order for the pair to feature at the Club World Cup.
So far they’ve brought in former Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and a pair of impressive youngsters in Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin and Tim Oermann from Bochum.
