UEFA Champions League
Carlos Espí is likely to become one of Levante's major sales in the upcoming market. The Spanish forward, at just 20 years old, has been crucial in securing Granota's permanence and has attracted the interest of several major European clubs.
Stuttgart seems to be leading the race for his signing. The German club is preparing an offer close to 25 million euros, a sum that matches the player's release clause and could persuade Levante to close a historic deal.
Espí changes Levante's fate
Levante's season concluded with great joy. Remaining in La Liga seemed challenging at various points, but the emergence of Carlos Espí completely shifted the team's dynamics.
The forward went from being a promising player with limited minutes to becoming Granota's main offensive reference. His impact was immediate—goals, presence in the box, off-the-ball work, and a maturity beyond his years quickly placed him at the core of the project.
His 13 goals across all competitions explain a significant part of their survival. Espí not only scored in crucial matches but also conveyed the sense of a forward ready to compete at the highest level. With his physicality, mobility, and instinct, he offered Levante a resource that wasn't abundant in the squad.
The Valencian club has enjoyed his breakthrough but also understands that such progress can have immediate consequences. In modern football, a young forward making an impact in La Liga quickly attracts attention.
And that's precisely what happened. Espí has become a market opportunity for clubs with greater financial power.
Stuttgart pushes for the striker
Stuttgart has been the most decisive team so far. The German side sees in Espí a forward with ideal attributes for the Bundesliga: strength, height, aggression in the box, and potential for growth.
The offer being prepared by the German club would be around 25 million euros. This figure represents a significant blow to Levante and places Stuttgart in a favorable position compared to other suitors.
For the German team, this operation fits its strategy of acquiring young talent with potential for appreciation. Espí would arrive as a strong bet, yet a player that can still be molded and enhanced in a league very favorable for physical attackers.
Furthermore, the forward could find in Germany an ideal environment to develop. The Bundesliga typically provides spaces, high tempo, and offensive demands that can further boost his strengths.
Levante, on the other hand, is unwilling to lose its prized asset. While permanence allows for negotiations with more tranquility, the club's financial situation makes rejecting an offer of such magnitude very difficult.

A painful yet necessary sale
Carlos Espí's departure would be a sporting blow for Levante. Losing a 20-year-old forward, a homegrown talent, influential and with an immediate connection with the fans is never easy to digest.
Nonetheless, the club must also prioritize its stability. A 25 million euro sale would allow for strengthening various positions, improving maneuvering room, and facing the next season with more resources.
The deal would carry a bitter aspect because Espí has been one of the main symbols of the survival. However, it would also showcase the successful work in the academy and Levante's ability to generate top-tier talent.
Meanwhile, the player faces a crucial decision. Staying another season in Orriols would enable him to continue growing in a familiar environment. Moving to Stuttgart would signify a significant competitive and financial leap.
Everything hints that the summer will be definitive. Levante aims to maximize the deal, Stuttgart is prepared to make a substantial offer, and other European clubs are watching closely.
Carlos Espí will not stay at Levante if a 25 million offer arrives. His season has propelled him into a new dimension, and the Granota club already understands that retaining him will be a nearly impossible mission.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Stuttgart pone 25 M€ sobre la mesa por Carlos Espí
