In Leverkusen, Germany, competing for the Bundesliga title has become an uphill task for Bayer Leverkusen, as their striker Patrik Schick expresses concerns over the clubโs current squad adequacy. This follows the loss of key players like Granit Xhaka, who recently transferred to Sunderland in the English Premier League.
Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United manager, now at the helm of Leverkusen, is grappling with a significant restructuring challenge. This comes after the departure of key figures including attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, right back Jeremie Frimpong, and defender Jonathan Tah, all of whom played pivotal roles in Leverkusenโs league and cup success in 2024. Additionally, the previous coach, Xabi Alonso, parted ways with the club to join Real Madrid.
In a candid conversation with Sky Sport Germany, Schick, the previous seasonโs top scorer with an impressive 27 goals from 45 matches, lamented the impact of these exits. โLosing our most important players hurts, and weโre not in a position to contend for the title without reinforcing the team,โ Schick stated.
Particularly, Schick acknowledges that missing attacking midfielder Wirtz would impact his gameplay as a forward, given Wirtzโs exceptional quality, which is rare to find. Nevertheless, he identified Xhaka as the most significant loss to the squad due to his leadership and extensive experience.
Despite the departures, Leverkusen has commenced their recruitment efforts by securing American attacking midfielder Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven and Jarell Quansah, a former Liverpool defender. Moreover, theyโve added Brentfordโs promising goalkeeper Mark Flekken to their ranks.
Among the summer signings, Schick singled out Ibrahim Maza, a promising 19-year-old midfielder from Hertha Berlinโs second-tier squad, describing him as a notable addition. Mazaโs potential has already made a positive impression on Schick, who regards him as a significant prospect for the future.