Will Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten myth collapse later?
Bayer Leverkusen are facing an uncertain summer. Xavi Alonso's side produced the most memorable season in the club's history. In the 32nd round of the Bundesliga in the early morning of May 6, Beijing time, they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, reaching an astonishing 48-game unbeaten streak.
The Bundesliga champions equalled Benfica's longest unbeaten run in European football history, which was set between December 1963 and February 1965. Many believe Bayer Leverkusen will end the 2023/24 season unbeaten, an extreme rarity in football history. However, behind the miracle, there are always some hidden worries.
Fiscal risk
Bayer Leverkusen's finances are not strong enough to keep all the stars in their current squad. In addition to the signing of a new contract by manager Marcos Alonso, many of the team's talents have attracted the attention of several major clubs.
The season is not over yet, but two-thirds of Bayer Leverkusen's squad have been linked to transfer rumours in the media. Defender Piero Hinkapi has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. On the other side, Jeremy Frimpong has Manchester United, Arsenal or Manchester City salivating.
Alejandro Grimaldo and striker Victor Boniface are also preparing to move to bigger clubs. Since the beginning of the year, Bayern Munich and other Premier League clubs have been linked with captain Jonathan Tach.
The transfer fee for these players is not low, no less than 50 million euros, enough for Bayer Leverkusen to consider selling. However, what worries fans the most is the departure of Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old is considered one of the most talked-about young players in German football. After recovering from a serious ligament injury, Wirtz has emerged as a key player for Bayer Leverkusen this season.
Coach Alonso has managed to build a team of ordinary players into a strong and cohesive team, but Wirtz's star qualities have also played a crucial role. Any football championship team needs a special player like the talented Wirtz.
Wirtz is worth a whopping 150 million euros. It's not hard to see why he's been sought after by major European clubs for a staggering price. Liverpool are willing to pay 100 million euros for him, but that seems to be just the starting price. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and especially Bayern Munich are all ready to join the auction battle.
Bayer Leverkusen are rumored to only sell Wirtz for no less than 150 million euros. However, if the 21-year-old midfielder's impressive performances can help the club create an unbeaten season, his transfer fee could be higher.
It wouldn't come as a surprise if more than half of Bayer Leverkusen's squad left this summer. Among them, there are several names that could be targeted by other clubs. Bayern has never stopped the strategy of "poaching" domestic competitors, which also makes other teams wary. Jurgen Klopp has described Bayern's strategy as "killing two birds with one stone" as it could help the club strengthen itself and weaken its direct rivals in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich lost across the board to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga this season, but Bayern won't let that happen for long. They may bring in Bayer Leverkusen stars to bolster their game.
Hope for Bayer Leverkusen
When Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title in mid-last month, sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted that the club "will be forced to sell several stars this summer" to balance the finances. The proceeds from the sale of these stars will be used to reinvest the team.
This is nothing new in German football. Before Bayer Leverkusen, both Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund had experienced post-title "blood loss". After winning the Bundesliga title in 2009, Wolfsburg were unable to retain the attacking combination of Dzeko and Grafeth for long. Things were even worse for Borussia Dortmund, with Shinji Kagawa, Robert Lewandowski and Gotze leaving shortly after winning the Bundesliga.
Both Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund failed to win the Bundesliga again after losing their key players. VfL Wolfsburg is now just an ordinary team in the Bundesliga, while Borussia Dortmund is known as a "buy low and sell high" team.
Bayer Leverkusen's current situation is similar to these two teams. Even if they end the season with a miraculous treble (Bundesliga, Europa League and German Cup) and remain unbeaten, it won't help the club make a financial leap.
Bayer Leverkusen fans are still pinning their hopes on manager Marcos Alonso. He has signed a new contract and will lead the club until 2026. However, with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Liverpool strongly pursued, no one knows if Alonso will stay at Bayer Leverkusen after the 2024/25 season.