Bayer Leverkusen’s objective is to touch silver in the short term. This is demonstrated by the statements of its main managers and their movements in this summer market. After reaching the semifinals of the Europa League last season, The group of aspirins has not hesitated to get down to work to equip the coach Xabi Alonso with more weapons to be able to fight for titles in a future course that excites the Rhenish fans.
At the moment, Bayer (without n) has invested a total of 42 million euros in four footballers. Granit Xhaka, who lands at the BayArena from Arsenal to lead the midfield of Xabi’s team, is joined by Jonas Hofmann from Gladbach, Arthur from América and the Spanish full-back Alejandro Grimaldo, who leaves Benfica to take the next step in his career at Leverkusen. These are four contrasting players who notably raise the quality of the German squad.
But the thing will not stop there. To replace his star Patrik Schick, who is out until autumn due to a groin injury, the sixth-ranked player in the last edition of the Bundesliga is considering hiring Niclas Füllkrug, German international in the ranks of Werder Bremen. A lot will depend on what sports director Simon Rolfes dictates since he also manages the option of going for a less proven striker who sits on the bench once the Czech striker has recovered.
Regardless of this, Xabi Alonso will have much more quality when it comes to facing next season with many guarantees. Especially considering that this year he will be able to count on a Florian Wirtz in full condition after a last season marked by a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee. With no notable casualties to date, the Tolosa coach’s men aim to be a team to keep in mind when the ball rolls again in Germany and Europe. And in Leverkusen they know it better than anyone.
In an interview with the Munich newspaper TZ, Rolfes made it clear that the goal is to lift a title in the short term. “Our objective is to consolidate ourselves as a top-level club, inspire the fans with our football and, of course, win. I am convinced that we will be able to have a title in our hands in a period that is not too long”, stressed the former Bayer player, knowing that he also has a coach who is up to this ambition.