RB Leipzig agree loan deal for Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, says Romano

RB Leipzig have reached an agreement with Roma to sign Morocco midfielder Neil El Aynaoui on loan during the current summer transfer window, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The deal will see El Aynaoui move to the German club for a loan fee of €4m. It also includes an option for RB Leipzig to buy the midfielder permanently for €25m at the end of the loan period.

However, the purchase clause is not mandatory, meaning RB Leipzig will not be required to complete a permanent transfer when the loan expires.

The agreement represents another move by RB Leipzig to strengthen their squad during the current transfer market. The club had already reached an agreement to sign forward Marc Guiu from Chelsea in a deal worth €17m.

El Aynaoui joined Roma from French club Lens at the start of last season. Since arriving in Rome, the Morocco international has made 35 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing two assists.

His proposed move to RB Leipzig would take him to Germany after one season with Roma, with the Bundesliga club retaining the choice of whether to make the transfer permanent. Under the reported terms, the €25m purchase option can be activated at the end of the loan, but neither club is obliged to complete that step.

Romano’s report concerns an agreement between Roma and RB Leipzig for the midfielder’s temporary transfer, with the €4m loan payment and the €25m option forming the central details of the arrangement.

El Aynaoui’s performances for Roma last season included two goals and two assists across his 35 appearances. His arrival at the Italian club followed his spell with Lens, from whom Roma signed him at the beginning of the previous campaign.

RB Leipzig are continuing to add to their squad ahead of the new season, with the planned arrival of El Aynaoui following the agreement for Guiu. The Chelsea player’s transfer is valued at €17m, while the Morocco midfielder’s proposed move would initially be completed on loan.

The €25m clause gives RB Leipzig the opportunity to assess El Aynaoui during the loan before deciding whether to proceed with a permanent transfer. Roma, meanwhile, would receive €4m for the temporary move under the agreement reported by Romano.