Latest news with #MarkFlekken
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Brutal Erik ten Hag ‘set to get rid of former Man Utd star for second time in two years'
ERIK TEN HAG appears set to sell Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar for a second time in two years. The former Manchester United manager arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 and sold Kovar to Leverkusen for £7.8million a year later. 3 3 This was after Kovar, 25, spent a season on loan at Sparta Prague after playing in two senior friendlies for Man Utd, who signed him as a youth player. After moving to Leverkusen, Kovar became the German outfit's second choice during their historic Bundesliga season, where they ended Bayern Munich 's 11-year reign of dominance. Last season, Kovar continued to play second fiddle to goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky - but did feature in six Champions League matches. Manager Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid at the end of last season, and Ten Hag was appointed as his successor shortly after. Ten Hag has already welcomed new first-choice stopper Mark Flekken from Brentford. Now, it appears that Kovar will, once again, be sold by the former Ajax manager. According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Kovar is on the verge of joining PSV Eindhoven this summer. The deal is expected to cost £4.3million, with a further £1.7million included in potential bonuses. The Czech Republic international expects to be first choice under Peter Bosz at PSV. Club captain Lukas Hradecky and Niklas Lomb are the other goalkeepers in Ten Hag's squad. Ten Hag plots shock move for Grealish | From The Sports Desk | Sun Sport Ten Hag has also added defender Jarell Quansah from Liverpool in a deal worth up to £35million. But Leverkusen have seen star men Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz head to Anfield in deals worth a combined £150million. 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brentford set to complete Caoimhin Kelleher signing from Liverpool as Mark Flekken exit agreed
Brentford are closing in on the signing of Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The 26-year-old has made it clear he wants more regular minutes and with Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving at Liverpool this summer, Kelleher's competition was set to grow further. Advertisement He is now expected to complete a move to Brentford for a fee that could rise to £18m depending on add-ons. Mark Flekken, who started 37 Premier League matches for Thomas Frank's side as the Bees finished the season in the top-half of the table, is set to join Bayer Leverkusen for £8.4m. The 31-year-old will join up with his fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who has been appointed as Leverkusen's new head coach after Xabi Alonso's departure. Kelleher made 10 Premier League appearances last season and featured four times in the Champions League, but his comments at the end of the campaign heavily hinted at a summer move. Advertisement 'I think I've said it before as well that like, I feel like I'm a number one and I feel like I'm good enough to play week in, week out,' Kelleher said. 'That's what I'm looking to do. Obviously, this season I was lucky enough to play a lot of games. But yeah, definitely something I'm looking at.' Brentford have a good relationship with Liverpool, having signed Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho last summer. The first transfer window of the summer is now open and will run until June 10. It will then close for six days, before clubs can continue their business from June 16 onwards, up until deadline day on September 1.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caoimhin Kelleher reveals why he left Liverpool as £18m Brentford transfer sealed
New arrival: Caoimhin Kelleher has signed a five-year contract after leaving Liverpool for Brentford (Nigel Keene/ProSportsImages) Brentford have announced the signing of goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool on a five-year deal. The Republic of Ireland international will cost the Bees £18million including add-ons and they have the option to extend his contract by a further year to the summer of 2031. Advertisement Kelleher joins Brentford following the departure of first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken, whom Bayer Leverkusen announced as a new £8.4m signing, also on Tuesday. Cork-born Kelleher is a two-time Premier League winner with Liverpool, where he made 67 appearances. The 26-year-old moved to Anfield in the summer of 2015 from Ringmahon Rangers. He will replace Flekken as Brentford's new No1, having been deputy to Alisson for a number of years at Liverpool. Kelleher, who will reunite with former Liverpool team-mates Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg in west London, said: 'I'm buzzing, I'm really happy to be here. Advertisement 'I don't think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a No1 and to play every week. 'I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible.' Brentford's director of football, Phil Giles, added: 'I am very pleased to welcome Caoimhín to Brentford. We have scouted him in the past and were aware that he had a year to go on his contract with Liverpool this summer. 'When Mark Flekken had the opportunity to move to Bayer Leverkusen, we immediately thought about Caoimhín as his replacement. 'As well as being a very good goalkeeper, I've rarely met a player for whom everybody has such positive words to say about his personality and character. I'm therefore confident he'll be an excellent addition to the squad.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PSV in discussions to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Matěj Kovář
Following Bayer Leverkusen's signing of Mark Flekken, Matěj Kovář is closer to the exit door at the Bundesliga runners-up. Florian Plettenberg reports that PSV have initiated negotiations to sign the 25-year-old goalkeeper, who is keen on a move to the Dutch champions. Kovář was played second fiddle to Lukas Hradecky in the Bundesliga, making just five league appearances but was called upon by Xabi Alonso in Leverkusen's cup competitions. The Czech goalkeeper started four out of die Werkself's five DFB Pokal games, sitting on the bench for their elimination against Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-final. Kovář also started six times in the UEFA Champions League last season. Advertisement The former Manchester United stopper joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 for €5m and while not being a standout performer, was a more than adequate back-up for the Bundesliga side as they went on to a league and cup double in 2024, as well as featuring in their historic Europa League run. GGFN | Daniel Pinder
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen reach agreement with Brentford to sign Mark Flekken
Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement with Brentford to sign Mark Flekken, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg. Flekken joined Brentford in the summer of 2023 after David Raya's departure to Arsenal, and has since established himself as one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers. Advertisement No keeper in the top tier of English football made more saves than Flekken's 153 last time out – 28 more than Aaron Ramsdale in second – as he helped Brentford secure a 10th-place finish. The 31-year-old is now set for a move to Leverkusen after they agreed a €10 million deal to take him to the BayArena. Personal terms between Flekken and Leverkusen have been finalised, and the transfer is expected to be made official in the coming days, pending a medical. Flekken will relish the opportunity to play Champions League football for the first time in his career under compatriot Erik ten Hag, who has replaced Xabi Alonso. Advertisement The Dutchman made a name for himself in the Bundesliga during his time with SC Freiburg, and his impending return to Germany is a full-circle moment in his career. Brentford will be expected to move fast in their search for a replacement, and are keen on a move for Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher. Flekken may not be the only key player to depart the Gtech Community Stadium this summer. Last season's leading scorer Bryan Mbeumo is attracting interest from several clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United. Manager Thomas Frank wanted Tottenham Hotspur, although any approach is dependent on the future of current boss Ange Postecoglou.
