There is a risk of a domino effect with serious consequences

It is well known that anyone who is successful arouses desire – Bayer Leverkusen could also feel this in the near future. The double winner is threatened with a huge upheaval next summer.

Fernando Carro remains very calm when asked about the speculation surrounding Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz that has been going on for months.

{
“placeholderType”: “MREC”
}

Leverkusen's managing director says that his personal hope that the national player will play for Bayer for a longer period of time is very high.

“As long as he has a contract here, as long as he feels comfortable here, as long as he knows that he can play top football here and has a top team and can celebrate success, then he is happy,” he said last Saturday Sky on Wirtz’s situation.

And when it comes to Alonso, Carro doesn't want to get caught up in any rumors, but instead wants to focus on the present. “What I can definitely deny is that there are any guarantees or agreements that I have heard all over the media,” the Spaniard clarified with regard to rumors and added with a view to his commitment to the Werkself until 2026 compatriot added: “The 'here and now' is important, nobody is interested in the next season and nothing is fixed. He has a contract for now.”

{
“placeholderType”: “MREC”
}

It is understandable that Carro wants to avoid any unrest. Especially when it comes to the two superstars. Since Leverkusen sensationally won the double last year and went down in history as German Invincibles, the rumor mill has been churning incessantly.

Alonso, the father of success, is repeatedly associated with Real Madrid, Wirtz with FC Bayern Munich, among others. Whether one or both of them leave next summer will ultimately be a question of money and perspective. Carro will know that too.

But before the cup clash in the round of 16 against FC Bayern (from 8.45 p.m. in the LIVETICKER), it is not just these two personalities that are currently keeping the Rhinelander's squad planners on their toes. Rather, Wirtz and Alonso are, if you will, just the tip of the iceberg.

Two protagonists who symbolize a general insecurity. By next summer at the latest, the Werkself could become a major construction site.

{
“placeholderType”: “MREC”
}

Hardly a day goes by without new speculation. All positions are affected, some even multiple times. Many players have a big question mark hanging over their heads when their own future is the topic.

Above all in defense, where there could be the biggest changes. As is well known, Jonathan Tah's contract expires in the summer; according to his own statements, he has long since decided to leave Bayer. Loan player Nordi Mukiele is actually too expensive and will probably return to Paris Saint-Germain.

Odilon Kossounou, who moved in a dispute and is currently on loan to Atalanta Bergamo, is also said to have no future in Leverkusen. And Piero Hincapie, currently the most stable defender, could also be sold if a club offers more than 40 million euros.

Hincapie's working paper expires in 2027, so the following applies to him: either extend it or at least bring in a lot of money. In an extreme case, the club could need three new central defenders for the new season.

It looks similar on the outside lanes. There, the Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo makes no secret of the fact that he dreams of returning to his homeland. The 28-year-old, born in Valencia, has never played in Spain's league in his career. In addition, Jeremie Frimpong has a clause at the end of the season – like last summer – that allows him to move for a fee of between 40 and 45 million euros.

Significant changes are also looming at the very top. According to information from the kicker complete.

{
“placeholderType”: “MREC”
}

If Boniface, whose contract runs until 2028, the Leverkusen team would like to extend, doesn't move to another top club, Schick should apparently leave. The Czech, who has recently regained his strength, is dissatisfied with his role as a reservist, and Bayer does not want to afford a high earner as a backup on a permanent basis.

And even in the position between the posts, nothing is set in stone. Captain Lukas Hradecky celebrated his 35th birthday at the end of November and is tied to the club until 2026. It is unclear whether he will continue his career afterwards.

But the actual plan to build Matej Kovar as number one of the future has not yet worked out as hoped and desired. That's what she reported Sports picture recently reported that the double winner's scouts were perceived as being noticeably active and brought Jonas Urbig from Cologne into the game. Bayer's squad planners may have to prepare for a huge upheaval.

How would this best be accomplished? Presumably in a similar scenario to that in January 2020, when Kai Havertz's transfer, including all bonus payments, was worth around 100 million euros and the Werkself had already made provisions in the winter.

At that time, the club made two major transfers with Edmond Tapsoba and Exequiel Palacios and also signed Wirtz, who was only 16 years old at the time, who would make his professional debut in the same season and help straight away. It makes sense to repeat something like this.

One thing is clear: signing three top-class central defenders in just one summer would be a Herculean task in itself. If the Rhinelanders also gave up Wirtz and other stars and went on a shopping spree with their pockets bulging – around 200 million euros in income seems possible – that would make the whole story even more complicated. The prices would automatically rise because everyone would know what Leverkusen's account looks like. Whether it comes to that ultimately depends on Wirtz.

The German champion, just like Alonso, is guaranteed not to give up on him. This has not only been clear since Carro's recent statements. On the contrary: Leverkusen is still convinced that it can keep the two driving forces.

Only the next few weeks will show whether one of the most sought-after German players and his equally highly sought-after coach will agree to this. A decision is not expected until spring 2025 at the earliest. Until then, the rumors surrounding the Werkself squad are unlikely to subside.