Reports: Anton favors summer departure, Leverkusen ahead of Dortmund in race

VfB Stuttgart captain Waldemar Anton's recently signed contract extension is widely rumored to contain an exit clause in the neighborhood of €20-25 million. Multiple German footballing media sources report that the clause contains no expiration date, meaning the new German national team call up can choose to depart Swabia at any given time this summer. 

Anton is reported to be favoring a departure and it increasingly looks as if the race for the central defender's services is coming down to Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. Both clubs have an acute need in central defense. The league champions are expected to lose Jonathan Tah to record champs Bayern. Dortmund have a need to replace the departed Mats Hummels.

German transfer guru Florian Plettenberg reports that Leverkusen have already initiated contact with Anton. Following two positive phone conversations, a new deal good through 2028 is apparently on the table. Naturally, it remains unlikely that Anton will be making any serious decision about his future whilst the German national team remains alive in the Bundesrepublik-hosted Euros.