Bayer Leverkusen’s rebuild continues full swing. After losing Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz to Liverpool FC, manager Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich, the club has a war chest of money to use to give new manager Erik Ten Hag a lot of backing in the transfer market. What a crazy sentence that is, eh?
Naturally, on the shopping list would be a replacement for Wirtz- one more experienced than new signing Ibrahim Maza. According to Florian Plettenberg, Die Werkself have found their man in former Bayern youth player Malik Tillman:
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have opened talks to sign Malik Tillman! B04 are open to activating the release clause and consider him an exciting player. No full agreements yet. More talks scheduled. His contract with PSV Eindhoven is valid until 2028.
However, Rik Elfrink rather contradicts reports of a release clause. The Dutch football expert, who regularly reports on PSV, had this to say:
PSV can ask whatever the club wants for Malik Tillman this summer, I’ve been assured - again. Also to Bayer Leverkusen, who want to buy him. Not next year. Then only Bayern has a buyout clause for 35 million euros.
He also added this:
About Malik Tillman - PSV - Bayern - Bayer:
- PSV has not agreed to any restrictions this summer, sources confirm
- Next year, Bayern can buy him for 35 million euros
- If PSV wants to sell him earlier, Bayern can ‘match’ any offer
- Tillman’s dream club is Bayern
Bayern loaned Tillman to the Eredivisie side in 2023 and sold him to them permanently in 2024. In his one season as a permanent player of PSV, the Germany-born USA international has delivered 12 league goals, as well as 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 Champions League matches.