'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bayer Leverkusen
Heung Min Son
Trending
Bayer Leverkusen has never won a Bundesliga title, but they came close on five occasions, the most recent being the 2010-11 season. In the past 5 years, they have been consistently finishing in the top 4, hinting towards stability in terms of both personnel and tactics.
The dual coaching roles of Sami Hyypia and Sascha Lewandowski has aided the club well last season, as they were able to finish 3rd, just a point behind Dortmund in the league. Both the coaches still have a year in their contracts, and they will try and continue the positive progress that has been made till now.
Andre Schurrle, who was one of Leverkusen’s best player last season moved to Chelsea for a fee of 18 million pounds. Also, defender Daniel Carvajal returned to his former club Real Madrid for a fee of 5 million. Left-back Michal Kadlec was sold to Fenerbahce for 4 million.
The income from these transfers was spent wisely on some good talents. Striker Heung-Min Son was bought from Hamburg along with young midfielder Emre Can from Bayern Munich and defender Giulio Donati from Inter Milan.
While the striker department seems to have been compensated, it is the midfield that has gotten some steel with the addition of Emre Can. Can has been playing second fiddle to the likes of Schweinsteiger and Gustavo at Bayern Munich for almost 3 years now. The arrival of Pep Guardiola has forced his transfer, and he now has a new challenge of playing regular football at the top level.
The latest news is the contract extension of Stefan Kiessling, which will keep him at the club until 2017. Kiessling, Schurrle and Bender were instrumental in Leverkusen’s fast paced playing style last season, with most of the goals being shared between them.
Now, they have Son, who is a natural goalscorer. The combination of Son and Kiessling will definitely cause problems to opponent defences, but the loss of Schurrle will be felt, unless of course Leverkusen sign a similar winger. Just like Bayern and Dortmund, we can expect some entertaining football from Leverkusen in the new season.
