Worst case scenario for coach Ten Hag

Bayer Leverkusen could part with up to nine first-team players in the summer of 2025, making it difficult for coach Erik ten Hag at the start of the season.

Ten Hag's start at Leverkusen has been difficult.

According to ESPN , Victor Boniface is in the process of negotiating a transfer to AC Milan for an estimated fee of 50 million euros. The deal could be completed this week, as the Nigerian striker is determined to leave Leverkusen.

In addition, winger Amine Adli is also about to join Sevilla for 20 million euros, while Exequiel Palacios expressed his desire to join Inter Milan. The Italian club is willing to pay a fee of about 35 million euros for Palacios.

Boniface, Adli and Palacios have all been key players under Xabi Alonso, and Ten Hag has repeatedly stressed his desire to keep the trio, having parted ways with several other key players this summer. However, the Dutchman has struggled to convince them.

As of August 21, the list of key players leaving Leverkusen this summer has reached 6, including Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong joining Liverpool, Jonathan Tah moving to Bayern Munich, Odilon Kossounou to Atalanta, Granit Xhaka surprisingly signing a contract with Sunderland and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky joining Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer.

This poses a major challenge for the team in maintaining their strength in the 2025/26 season. With the Bundesliga opener against Borussia Dortmund on August 23, Ten Hag is racing against time to stabilize the squad. If he cannot keep the pillars like Boniface, Adli and Palacios, Ten Hag will have to make a big change in the squad, putting his faith in new players like Quansah or Tillman.

Despite earning nearly 200 million euros from player sales, Leverkusen did not make many notable moves in the 2025 summer transfer window, with only two major signings this summer, including young centre-back Jarell Quansah from Liverpool and striker Malik Tillman from PSV.

Source: https://znews.vn/kich-ban-te-nhat-voi-hlv-ten-hag-post1578566.html