The Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich transfer saga is one that lasted quite a long time, with the club going back and forth with Bayer Leverkusen and the media having even more fun. It ended in early June when Tah finally put ink on paper and signed for Bayern Munich on a 4-year contract.
It is hard to believe that a mere 16 months ago, as they celebrated an unprecedented, unbeaten domestic double-winning season with their awestruck fans at the BayArena, Bayer Leverkusen resembled the very picture of stability, health and continuity. It seemed as though Die Werkself were set to maintain their soaring productivity levels, with Xabi Alonso working his coaching magic and having rebuffed his former clubs, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, as they searched for new managers.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Ange Postecoglou has emerged as a managerial option for two major European clubs currently in search of a new head coach, Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahce. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss is being seriously considered as both clubs assess their future plans. Romano reports that Postecoglou's name has been discussed internally by decision-makers at both Leverkusen and Fenerbahce, with the Australian coach viewed as a candidate who could bring structure, attacking football.
According to The Sun, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is being considered by Bayer Leverkusen who sacked Erik ten Hag yesterday. Glasner has cemented his position as one of the best managers in the Premier League. The Austrian manager has recently guided Palace to success in the FA Cup and the Community Shield. On their way to silverware, they beat Manchester City and Liverpool, showing their capability to compete with the best teams in the country.
Arsenal are on the verge of a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen's versatile Ecuador international defender Piero Hincapie, with Jakub Kiwior also set to leave. According to two updates this morning from Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are closing in on Hincapie, while Kiwior is also getting closer to finalising his move to Porto. Romano says it will be here we go' soon for the Hincapie to Arsenal transfer, with the clubs just finalising the details of the payment structure for the deal.
Boniface was superb for Leverkusen in their 2023/24 season, when he scored 21 goals in all competitions to help them win the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal, and reach the Europa League final. The 24-year-old has a total of 32 goals in 61 appearances for Leverkusen, and it's easy to imagine him doing well in the Premier League. A tall, strong, and quick striker, Boniface has the raw ingredients to deal with the physicality and fast-paced nature of English football.
Leverkusen got off to a quick start, with Quansah scoring six minutes into his Bundesliga debut after connecting with Alejandro Grimaldo's free-kick and heading past Oliver Baumann. However, Quansah was caught cold at the other end when Asllani managed to evade him in the box before firing beyond Mark Flekken at the near post to equalise in the 25th minute.
The newly named Franz Beckenbauer Supercup has many uses. Unlike some of its continental counterparts, this curtain-raising meeting between league and cup winners tends to brim with a pleasing intensity. It unfolds in a partisan atmosphere too, taking place at one of the two competitors' stadium rather than at a neutral venue, so we feel the real straight away. Telling us what to expect for the coming nine months in the Bundesliga, however, isn't often one of the Supercup's strengths.
