Deadline Day Drama for Leweling
Liverpool and Everton were both in the mix for the signature of VfB Stuttgart attacker Jamie Leweling late on transfer deadline day, according to Sky in Germany, with neither Merseyside club able to get a deal over the line. The Merseyside rivals were both looking to improve their options in the final third before the 11pm cut-off point on Tuesday night.
Leweling, 25, had emerged as a target following his fine form for Stuttgart, having finished the 2025/26 campaign with 11 goals and 12 assists in 50 games in all competitions for the Bundesliga side. His form earned him a call-up to the Germany squad for the World Cup, where he featured in one game as the former winners exited in the round of 32.
Roma's Bid and the Flight Cancellation
Both clubs were joined in the race to sign him by Italian giants Roma, who submitted a bid of €30million plus €5million in add-ons (£30million), according to Sky Sport in Germany. There was no agreement between the clubs, however, with the player preferring to stay in Germany, according to reports.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Leweling was set to complete a €35million (£30m) move to Roma after a late breakthrough, but his flight was cancelled ahead of the move. Roma had readied a private plan for the German star after submitting improved offers to Leweling and Stuttgart as they pushed to get a deal over the line. The Italian giants had first struggled to come to terms over a deal, seeing a loan offer rejected amid reports of Everton and Liverpool being interested in the player.
Related Deadline-Day Moves
The Echo also reported that Neil El Aynaoui's transfer to RB Leipzig from Roma faces a similar fate. El Aynaoui was set to move on loan to the Bundesliga, with a move turning permanent under certain conditions. The Morocco international travelled yesterday to complete his medical, but 'problems' are said to have blocked the transfer. Roma have run out of time with the window shutting at 8pm in Italy (7pm UK).
Liverpool had already added a winger in Bradley Barcola this week, following the £123million signing of the forward from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday after a long transfer pursuit, according to GIVEMESPORT. The Reds did not make any more signings on deadline day, bar 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, and have allowed Harvey Elliott to leave on loan to Valencia, the Echo reported.
Everton had something of a frantic end to the transfer window with Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jack Grealish all eventually making the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, although an on-off move for Foalrin Balogun fell through at the last moment, according to GIVEMESPORT. Iliman Ndiaye is set to join Manchester City, with the winger set to bring in up to £65m for Everton, and Jack Grealish expected to head in the opposite direction on loan for the second season in a row, the Echo reported.
Praise for Leweling
Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness said: "We've seen a different side to Jamie since the summer. He has fine-tuned a couple of things. We knew what was in his locker in terms of his ability - he's shown that and it has earned him a place in the [Germany] national team - but he's added consistency to that now."
His Stuttgart teammate Deniz Undav said of Leweling: "He's physically strong and fast. When he has a clear mindset, he's difficult to defend against. He has everything you need - except for my technique!"