Mikel Arteta's side could have Premier League opposition for the star's signing

Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are waiting on an answer from Ibrahim Maza after offering the Arsenal target improved terms, with the Gunners also keenly awaiting his response. The Algerian international arrived at the BayArena in 2025 and an impressive first season has put him on the radar of top sides.

The Gunners aren't the only ones to be linked with the 20-year-old. Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the former Hertha Berlin star, who caught the eye of Lionel Messi in the voting for the Kopa Trophy.

Maza signed a contract running until 2030 when he joined Leverkusen. However, according to Sky Sport Deutschland, he has been offered a new deal with a £1.2million pay bump per year and no release clause.

Negotiations between player and club are said to be at an advanced stage. This means Arsenal and any other potential suitors are expected to know within a matter of days whether the midfielder is prepared to commit his longer-term future to his current side.

Make sure you never miss the latest Arsenal news and opinion by making Football London one of your Google preferred sources.

The youngster has three goals and three assists in the Bundesliga already this season. He also got off the mark in the Europa League in October, scoring in a 4-0 victory over Lech Poznan.

Maza has regularly been used in a central attacking midfield role, though he is also an option on either wing. He was the first signing made by Leverkusen in the brief Erik ten Hag era and has gone onto bigger and better things this term under Carles Martinez Novell.

The boss outlined his hopes for Maza in August after Leverkusen brushed off interest from AC Milan. At the time, a fee of around £33m had been mooted, but the player's value has risen significantly since.

After playing for Germany at age-group level, the midfielder declared for Algeria and made his senior debut for the African nation in 2024. He started all four games at the World Cup as the Fennec Foxes reached the round of 32.

Maza is part of Brahim Hemdani's squad for the November international break, where Algeria face home and away matches against Togo. Victory in both would be enough for them to effectively book their place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with time to spare.

He isn't the only Bundesliga star to be linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this month. Antonio Nusa, an international team-mate of Martin Odegaard with Norway, is another to attract headlines.

"I try to take a step back from that," the RB Leipzig winger told TV2 when asked about how he responds to speculation. "There's a lot going on at the same time now. I try not to open my phone too often, because there's always something going on there.

"I see everything, then! Whatever comes. I'm not blind, so I get it. That's why I try to take a step back. I have good people around me. There's no stress. I just try to enjoy the everyday life I have in Leipzig."