The new head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, Erik ten Hag delivers a press conference in Leverkusen, western Germany, on May 26, 2025. Hag will take over as head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, with a contract running until June 30, 2027, the club announced on May 26, 2025. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)The new head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, Erik ten Hag delivers a press conference in Leverkusen, western Germany, on May 26, 2025. Hag will take over as head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, with a contract running until June 30, 2027, the club announced on May 26, 2025. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
The new head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, Erik ten Hag delivers a press conference in Leverkusen, western Germany, on May 26, 2025. Hag will take over as head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, with a contract running until June 30, 2027, the club announced on May 26, 2025. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Erik ten Hag could get one over on his former employers after a huge appointment was announced.
One of the biggest transfer stories of the summer so far is heating up, and things are starting to get even more interesting in Leverkusen as the window prepares to open on Sunday.
It will be a huge summer of change for the 2024 Bundesliga champions. A new start is on the horizon after club legend manager Xabi Alonso announced he would leave the club at the end of the 2024/25 season, and his inevitable unveiling as new Real Madrid head coach took place on Sunday. With several key players seemingly on their way out, Leverkusen look to be in need of a hero to turn around a feeling that a golden generation at the club is breaking apart.
Step in Erik ten Hag, who has been announced as Alonso’s successor at Leverkusen on a two-year deal in his first managerial role since being sacked by Manchester United in October. He will officially begin his role at Leverkusen on July 1.
Former Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag could have the last laugh
The irony of this situation is that Ten Hag, who came under immense scrutiny during his time at Old Trafford, could be the manager who facilitates one of the best players in the world completing a record-shattering move to United’s arch-rivals Liverpool. Florian Wirtz edges closer to Anfield by the day in a move which could cost a British-record £126m, a transfer which would surely only increase United fans’ disdain towards their former manager.
Ten Hag would no doubt like to keep hold of his side’s prized possession, but it seems highly unlikely that could be on the cards. In the event where the 22-year-old does move on, Ten Hag couldn’t be blamed for feeling a lack of sympathy towards his former employers. The idea of Wirtz lining up alongside Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk at Anfield is a scary prospect for the neutral, but for United fans, Liverpool’s dream signing surely represents their very worst nightmare.
What Ten Hag has said about Florian Wirtz and Bayer Leverkusen
“I didn’t talk to players yet, the time frame was too short for that. The players are with their national team or on vacation. That is still to come. I have an idea of the squad, but not in detail yet. We still need to approach that, but we also still have time for that. But of course we can’t wait that long for that, we need to make decisions.”
With a transfer for Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool also reportedly imminent, it could well be that Ten Hag’s first act as Leverkusen manager is to watch on as two of his key players complete moves to Anfield. The problems their departures may leave for the Dutchman to sort out are clear to see, but at least he will likely have in the region of £150m to fix them. Whatever happens, this developing situation is certainly one to keep an eye on.
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