Guela Doue valuation rises as Strasbourg prepare for high-stakes transfer decision

Bayer Leverkusen are closely monitoring Strasbourg right-back Guela Doue and could soon make an approach, according to German publication Kicker, with the French club reportedly demanding about €40m for the highly sought-after defender.

The interest from the Bundesliga champions adds another major name to the growing list of clubs tracking the young Ivorian. Doue has already attracted significant attention in the transfer market, but Leverkusen’s reported involvement could give the situation fresh momentum in the coming days.

Strasbourg’s asking price is understood to be substantially higher than previous estimates. Figures circulating in recent weeks had placed Doue’s value between €30m and €35m, but Kicker reports that the Alsace club now wants around €40m to sanction his departure.

That stance could make negotiations more difficult for any interested club. Strasbourg appear determined to maximise the financial return from a potential sale and have now placed a clear valuation on a player whose contract runs until 2029.

A €40m transfer would also make Doue one of the most expensive players in Strasbourg’s history. It would rank as the second-highest sale ever completed by the club, behind the transfer of Diego Moreira.

The next question is whether Bayer Leverkusen are prepared to meet Strasbourg’s demands. The German side’s interest gives the transfer story an even higher profile, but no agreement has been reported and the clubs would still need to bridge the gap over the defender’s valuation.

Doue is valued at €20m by Transfermarkt, although Strasbourg’s reported asking price is twice that figure. He earns an annual salary of €900,000, equivalent to 585,000,000 FCFA.

Strasbourg’s immediate focus will be on their next domestic fixture. They are due to face Lens in the second matchday of the French championship, while the betting company 1xbet has published odds of 3.40 for a Lens victory, 3.60 for a draw and 2.14 for a Lens victory. The published figures list the same outcome twice.

Doue’s future is therefore set to remain a major talking point around Strasbourg. With Leverkusen now reportedly considering an approach and the club’s €40m valuation publicly circulating, the defender’s transfer saga is only beginning.