On the day when Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen reign came crashing down, could another departure be on the cards from the 2024 Bundesliga champions with West Ham United in the mix for Victor Boniface?
Reportedly a long-term target for the London Stadium outfit, West Ham were first linked with Boniface a year-and-a-half ago.
The Nigeria international’s reputation was sky-high at the time. He had just scored a career-best 21 goals as Bayer Leverkusen secured the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history, after all. Flash forward to September 2025, however, and Victor Boniface now finds himself in a very different situation.
He netted only 11 times during a difficult second season at the Bay Arena. A move to AC Milan broke down last month when he failed his medical.
So while Hammers News can confirm that West Ham have considered signing Boniface on loan, the 24-year-old’s future could not be more up in the air as the 7pm deadline looms and sporting director Simon Rolfes speaks out.
Liverpool FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Simon Rolfes admits Victor Boniface can leave as West Ham United consider Bayer Leverkusen striker
In quotes provided by Kicker, and while explaining the remarkable sacking of former Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag after only two Bundesliga matches, Rolfes admits that the West Ham United-linked Boniface will be allowed to leave if a last-gasp offer arrives which suits all parties.
“He’s always performed well, even during pre-season. [But] the situation is difficult for him with competition from Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane,” Rolfes says. “If something comes along that suits him, we’re open to it. And if not, he’ll stay here.
“And that’s no problem either.”
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
So, all possibilities are on the cards.
BILD, meanwhile, claim that Boniface earns £66,000-a-week. That deal which would have taken him to AC Milan was worth £25 million in a loan-to-buy arrangement. Thus, offering an insight into the type of fee Leverkusen would be looking for.
While West Ham appear to be prioritising a centre-half rather than a centre-forward on deadline day, Werder Bremen have suddenly emerged as an alternative destination for the former Union Saint-Gilloise and Bodo/Glimt frontman.
BILD add, however, that Boniface’s four million euro wages are far larger than any current Werder Bremen player.
VfL Bochum v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Callum Wilson opens West Ham account in Nottingham Forest win
In the meantime, West Ham’s 3-0 dismantling of Nottingham Forest saw Callum Wilson justify Graham Potter’s faith in a striker who clearly hasn’t lost his nose for goal.
Potter felt that Wilson would be a ‘top signing’ if he could stay clear of the treatment table. The movement and the ruthlessness he demonstrated off the bench at the City Ground, the 33-year-old converting from a sublime El Hadji Malick Diouf cross, suggests that the Hammers could get away with delaying their striker chase for another year provided Wilson stays fit.
“I think for me, I’ve been training and working hard behind the cameras, waiting for an opportunity,” Wilson told the club’s official website on Sunday. “I’ve not managed to get a start yet, but it’s about trying to impress in the time that you do get on the pitch, and today I tried to do that. It’s always nice to score in front of the fans as well.
“The lads were doing it, and I was getting jealous. I want to get my own goal, and to be fair, it’s a fantastic ball from Malick as well.
“I’ve seen him do that so many times. It was just about getting into the right position to get on the end of it, and thankfully, it went in.”
In the meantime, Sunderland are set to sign Ajax striker Brian Brobbey, the one-time West Ham target, for an initial £17 million.