Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly shown 'concrete interest' in signing Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
The German club are preparing for a new era under former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, who was recently appointed as Xabi Alonso's replacement.
With a tough act to follow, Ten Hag will be keen to strengthen in a number of areas this summer, including in the goalkeeping department.
Backup goalkeeper Matej Kovar is set to leave in the summer transfer window, meaning that the club needs to sign a new goalkeeper to compete with experienced shot-stopper Lukas Hradecky.
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Leverkusen want Flekken
According to Kicker, Leverkusen are showing 'concrete interest' in signing Brentford's Flekken as a replacement for Kovar.
The report claims that the German club have been working on a potential deal for more than a month after identifying Flekken as their top goalkeeper target.
Leverkusen are looking to secure Flekken's signature for a €15m (12.6m) fee, but it remains to be seen whether Brentford will demand a higher fee for a player who is under contract until the summer of 2027, with an option to extend by a further year.
Thomas Frank's side will also have to find a suitable replacement before they consider sanctioning the Dutchman's departure.
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How important is Flekken to Brentford?
The 31-year-old has established himself as Brentford's undisputed number one following his arrival from Bundesliga side Freiburg last summer.
Flekken, a Netherlands international, has made 77 competitive appearances for the Bees, including eight clean sheets in 37 Premier League matches in the 2024-25 campaign.
As per FBref, Flekken pulled off more saves (150) than any other goalkeeper in the division in the 2024-25 season, while he also finished in sixth spot for the highest save percentage.
Flekken ultimately played a key role in Brentford's top-half finish and would leave a considerable void if he were to depart this summer.
