Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly set their sights on young Empoli defender and Italy Under-21 international Mattia Viti.
According to Sport Mediaset and Get German Football News, the Bundesliga outfit has made a point of scouting the centre-back and had negotiations with his advisors a couple of weeks ago.
Viti is a product of the Empoli youth academy and only turned 20 in January.
He has been a regular in Serie A this season with 18 appearances for the club, plus two in the Coppa Italia.
His contract at the Stadio Castellani runs to June 2025 and the price-tag is believed to be in the region of €5m.
There is also interest for Viti within Serie A from the likes of Inter, Juventus and Roma.