Neil El Aynaoui’s proposed transfer from AS Roma to RB Leipzig is in serious doubt, with the Bundesliga club yet to complete the deal as the final hours of the transfer window approach.
The Morocco international midfielder had appeared set to leave Roma for Germany, but the move is now at risk of collapsing. The uncertainty has turned what looked like a settled transfer into a late race against time, with RB Leipzig needing to resolve the outstanding details before the deadline.
El Aynaoui had already rejected another opportunity earlier in the process. Despite Crystal Palace reaching a financial agreement with Roma, the player turned down the approach from the London club.
That decision represented a clear preference for the sporting project offered by RB Leipzig. El Aynaoui initially chose the German option over a move to Crystal Palace, even though the two clubs had agreed terms for his transfer.
The situation has since changed, leaving the midfielder’s immediate future unresolved. Rather than preparing for a move that appeared close to completion, El Aynaoui is now waiting to discover whether the proposed switch to RB Leipzig can be completed in time.
The German club must finalise the remaining elements of the agreement before the transfer window closes. If it succeeds, El Aynaoui will leave Roma and continue his career in the Bundesliga. If not, the Morocco international could remain with the Italian club at the start of the season.
The late complication has made the transfer one of the more uncertain deals of the closing stages of the window. Roma had been involved in a financial agreement with Crystal Palace before El Aynaoui declined that proposal, preferring to pursue the opportunity at RB Leipzig.
That choice now leaves the player in a difficult position, with the German move no longer assured and the possibility of staying at Roma still open. The outcome depends on whether RB Leipzig can complete the final details quickly enough.
For now, El Aynaoui’s departure from AS Roma cannot be considered certain. The midfielder’s expected move to RB Leipzig remains unresolved, while the clock continues to run down on a deal that could either be completed at the last moment or fail to go through altogether.