Latest news with #Leverkusen
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Milan maintain Xhaka pursuit despite move for Ricci
Milan reportedly remain interested in signing Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, as the Rossoneri prepare to renegotiate with the German club over the price tag. Xhaka has been strongly linked with a move to Milan in recent weeks and despite the player's willingness to join the Rossoneri, Leverkusen have been standing strong over their demands for the player. LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – APRIL 12: Granit Xhaka of Bayer 04 Leverkusen is seen during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Union Berlin at BayArena on April 12, 2025 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by) For this reason, Samuele Ricci has instead been touted with a possible switch to Massimiliano Allegri's side – the 23-year-old looking set to leave Torino for Milan. Advertisement However, according to the latest reports from IlMilanista, the two deals are not mutually exclusive and, if the finances behind the deals work out, both could be possible. What Milan need to unlock Xhaka deal The reports from Italy suggest that Leverkusen are demanding a fee in the region of €15 million for the 32-year-old – whilst Milan are only prepared to offer €10 million currently. Leverkusen are in no rush to sell and appear to be standing firm over their demands. MAINZ, GERMANY – MAY 17: Granit Xhaka of Bayer 04 Leverkusen arrives at the stadium prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at MEWA Arena on May 17, 2025 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by) In the coming weeks, the Rossoneri are expected to make some key sales – with Theo Hernandez heading to Al-Hilal and Alvaro Morata departing for Como – on top of the £46.5 million gained from the transfer of Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City. With these sales, Milan may be able to finance both deals for Ricci and Xhaka – but the latter will hinge on Leverkusen's willingness to negotiate over price.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayern with successive home games v Leverkusen and Dortmund
Bayern Munich players huddle during a training session at the ESPN Sports Complex ahead Sunday's FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match against CR Flamengo. Sven Hoppe/dpa Champions Bayern Munich have the chance to make an early Bundesliga season statement when they play runners-up Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund in back-to-back home games in autumn. The German Football League (DFL) published the full schedule on Friday, the after announcing that Bayern would start the season on August 22 against RB Leipzig. Advertisement Leverkusen start the post-Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz era against Hoffenheim, and Dortmund are at St Pauli. Bayern will play Dortmund on matchday seven October 17-19 after an international break, and then host Leverkusen on matchday nine two weeks later. The reverse fixtures are in spring. Bayern end the season at home against promoted Cologne on May 16, after finishing the past two campaigns in Hoffenheim. Dortmund also finish away, at Werder Bremen, while Leverkusen's last game is at home against SV Hamburg. Promoted Cologne and SV Hamburg both start away, at Mainz and Borussia Mönchengladbach, respectively. Advertisement Hamburg then have a home derby against St Pauli before travelling to Munich on matchday three, which also features Leverkusen v third-place finishers Eintracht Frankfurt. The first Gladbach v Cologne derby is on matchday 10 in early November. The 15th matchday ends this year's action, with Bayern at Heidenheim, and the champions restart after a short two-week winter break against Wolfsburg on January 9-11. Dortmund play Frankfurt the same weekend. Other matchday one fixtures meanwhile are Freiburg v Augsburg, Union Berlin v Stuttgart, Heidenheim v Wolfsburg and Frankfurt v Bremen.
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Bayer Leverkusen Target Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss
Rabat — Moroccan international and Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is currently under Bayer Leverkusen's radar as they look to fill the void left by Florian Wirtz's departure to Liverpool. The 21-year-old Moroccan international finds himself in an uncertain position after Leicester's relegation to the Championship following their 18th-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League season. Despite the Foxes' struggles, El Khannouss showed promise during his debut campaign in English football. Leicester signed El Khannouss from Belgian club Genk last summer for £21 million. During his 32 Premier League appearances, the midfielder showed prowess, delivering solid performances despite his team's disappointing results and scoring two goals and three assists. Now, Leverkusen sees an opportunity. The German club recently sold their star playmaker Wirtz to Liverpool for a massive £116 million, leaving them with both the funds and the need to find a creative spark for their midfield. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Leverkusen has already made contact regarding El Khannouss' terms. The Bundesliga runners-up had tracked the young midfielder during his time at Genk and now view this summer as the perfect moment to make their move. Manager Erik ten Hag wants to bring El Khannouss to the BayArena, where he would link up with fellow Moroccan Amine Adli. The club sees the Leicester man as the ideal candidate to help maintain their creative output following significant squad changes. Leverkusen won't have a clear path to El Khannouss, though. Wolverhampton Wanderers have also shown interest, reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for Matheus Cunha. The transfer looks feasible from a financial standpoint. Reports suggest El Khannouss has a release clause worth £22 million in his Leicester contract. For Leverkusen, flush with cash from the Wirtz sale, meeting that figure shouldn't present major obstacles. El Khannouss faces a crucial decision about his future. He can either help Leicester bounce back to the Premier League or take the next step in his career with a move to Germany's top flight. The Atlas Lion has already proven he can compete at the highest level during his Premier League stint. A switch to Leverkusen would offer him the chance to play Champions League football and continue his development under ten Hag's guidance. With Leicester's relegation confirmed and Leverkusen's genuine interest, this transfer story could develop quickly as the summer window progresses.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Erik ten Hag has already 'annoyed and upset' ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka
Erik ten Hag has upset Granit Xhaka with his period of silence after being named the new Bayer Leverkusen boss which has caused the Arsenal star to question his future Erik ten Hag has already managed to annoy Granit Xhaka since being appointed as Bayer Leverkusen boss, according to reports in Germany. The Dutch coach returned to the dugout after several months out of the game following his Manchester United sacking. He's inherited a squad from Xabi Alonso that won the Bundesliga title this time last year with Xhaka a crucial cog in their midfield. The ex-Arsenal man has proved a huge hit in Germany but he and the new manager have not struck it off on the right note. Bild claim that Ten Hag made a deliberate effort to give his new Leverkusen players time and space before touching base for the first time. However this approach has not been universally well received with Xhaka among those to take issue with the new manager's idea. Ten Hag only made contact with the former Arsenal midfielder three weeks after his appointment. That lack of communication has seen the Swiss star question his future. Ten Hag has been keen to underlined how important he felt the 32-year-old would be to his plans moving forward, but the period of silence looks to have backfire on the new manager. Xhaka was an integral part of Alonso's remarkable Bundesliga-winning side that went unbeaten all year and claimed the German Cup. He has a contract at the BayArena until 2028 but AC Milan are circling. It's claimed a deal could be sealed if Milan make an offer in the region of £12.8million, despite Leverkusen initially holding out for a fee of £34m. The German side have already seen a host of their leading lights leave, putting Ten Hag on the back foot as he begins his tenure. Florian Wirtz has left for Liverpool in a British-record deal that has banked the club more than £100m. Jeremie Frimpong has also joined him in moving to Anfield whilst defensive star Jonathan Tah has moved to arch rivals Bayern Munich on a free when his contract expired. It does leave Leverkusen with money to spend however after finishing second in the Bundesliga. Ten Hag had been tipped to return to Ajax, only for him to reject the Eredivisie outfit in favour of a move to Leverkusen when they came calling. He signed a two-year contract and will look to prove himself once again after a poor end to his spell in charge in Manchester.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool transfer on hold as two players face major decisions over future
Jarell Quansah will be in no rush to complete his £35m move to Bayer Leverkusen. In fact, the Liverpool defender will hope he has to wait a little while longer to finalise his summer transfer. The Reds have agreed a deal with the Bundesliga outfit that will see Leverkusen sign Quansah for an initial £30m, with a further £5m in add-ons, while the terms also include a buy-back clause. The move was agreed after the two clubs had already been in negotiations throughout the summer, with Liverpool signing Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz. Advertisement But while Wirtz was unveiled as a Reds player on Friday, becoming Liverpool's record signing in a deal worth up to £116m, Leverkusen are yet to close a deal for Quansah. READ MORE: Simon Jordan expects Marc Guehi transfer agreement after Liverpool interest - 'Against the clock' READ MORE: Jordan Henderson was accused of being a 'troublemaker' as Liverpool claim made That's because the 22-year-old, who will become the German outfit's own record signing after being earmarked as a replacement for Jonathan Tah by new head coach Erik ten Hag, remains on international duty with England Under-21s. Advertisement Quansah is currently one of three Reds stars in Lee Carlsey's young Lions squad, along with Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton, currently competing in the European Championships in Slovakia. Having come into the tournament as defending champions, England are looking to hold on their European crown. The young Lions are through to the semi-finals after beating Spain last weekend, and lock horns with the Netherlands on Wednesday evening (June 25) as they look to progress to the final. Should they beat the Dutch, England will face either Germany or France in the final on Saturday 28 June. Quansah, who has been an ever-present for the young Lions to date, will inevitably be hoping to help Carsley's side reach the final. Advertisement And if England do overcome the Netherlands, he will have to wait a little while longer to complete his move to Leverkusen, with his transfer having to wait until after his participation in the tournament to be finalised. Both Elliott and Morton - who is suspended for the semi-final clash with the Dutch - could also be on the move this summer, having found themselves on the fringes of Arne Slot's squad last season. Unlike Quansah, they do not have moves in the pipeline as things stand. But with both players attracting interest, their Liverpool futures will become clearer in the weeks ahead once their participation in the European Championships comes to an end. Elliott has already admitted more than once he might have to reluctantly leave his boyhood club this summer as he weighs up his future, while Morton is set to move on after being denied a loan exit last year. Advertisement England Under-21s' European Championships semi-final against the Netherlands will be broadcast live and free on Channel 4 from 4.40pm, with the game set to kick off at 5pm. Jules Breach, former Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe will present live coverage from the National Stadium in Bratislava.
