Bayer Leverkusen: Mega departures after a dream season – what now?

Bayer Leverkusen: Mega departures after a dream season – what now?

Bayer Leverkusen is at the beginning of a new chapter after an outstanding season. The club has recently lost several key players, which has made many fans and experts sit up and take notice. The most exciting thing is Florian Wirtz's move to Liverpool FC, for which up to 150 million euros are expected to flow. This is not only a record for the club, but also one of the highest salaries in Bundesliga history. Loud Cologne City Gazette Bayer also loses its popular coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.

Despite these departures, those responsible at the club are optimistic. Sports director Simon Rolfes emphasized that changes are necessary and that the team has already successfully mastered major upheavals in the past. Departures like Kai Havertz, Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby were always compensated for. And those responsible are now also looking at new additions such as Alejandro Grimaldo and Nathan Tella, who have made a significant contribution to the success in the 2023/24 season.

Reinforcements and departures

The list of departures is getting longer: In addition to Wirtz and Alonso, Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong are no longer part of the team. Rumors suggest that Granit Xhaka could also leave the club shortly, possibly to AC Milan. The 32-year-old Swiss was crucial to the championship title and could be the next big-name player to leave. Milan are already showing great interest in Xhaka, who attracted attention last season with the second-highest number of ball actions and passes The Football Faithful reported.

A secret race seems to be underway. AC Milan are planning to make a formal inquiry after Tijjani Reijnders moves to Manchester City. In addition to Milan, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and former club FC Basel have also signaled interest. So Rolfes could soon face another challenge: How do you compensate for the loss of Xhaka, who not only shone in the Bundesliga but was also the proud holder of two goals and seven assists last season?

New coaches, new horizons

Bayer Leverkusen is also entering fresh territory with new coach Erik ten Hag. His goal: the Champions League. Ten Hag brings fresh ideas and is convinced of the potential that lies dormant in the team. Likewise, Leverkusen's management plans to hold on to defenders such as Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapié, while the transfer of Jarell Quansah to replace Tah is nearing completion.

The young talents who are new to the team are particularly exciting: Axel Tape and Ibrahim Maza have already signed their contracts. They are joined by the experienced goalkeeper Mark Flekken, whose signing broadens the defense. Squad planning for the coming season seems to be in full swing. A good mix of established players and young hotshots could be the key to another successful year.

Transfer balance at a glance

What has the transfer record been like in recent years? Bayer Leverkusen has had a total deficit of 21.65 million euros over the last five years. For comparison: In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich's transfer records are noticeably high with a loss of 64.65 million euros. Leverkusen has done relatively well, but the upcoming departures are a new challenge that needs to be overcome in order to remain competitive in the future.

Overall, it remains to be seen how Bayer Leverkusen will fare in these uncertain times. The fans are excited about the upcoming transfers and the new coach who will take over. The pressure is high because last season's success shouldn't be a one-off experience.