Bayer Leverkusen have pulled off a significant transfer coup with the signing of Moussa Diaby. The 27-year-old French winger will put pen to paper on a contract until 2031.
The club, which finished the previous Bundesliga season in sixth place with 59 points, now aims to further strengthen its defence. This is why another Frenchman, Guéla Doué, is on the radar. The 23-year-old right-back from Racing Strasbourg played four World Cup matches for Ivory Coast. However, his club demands a transfer fee of 40 million euros, which is currently too high for Leverkusen. Doué's contract in Strasbourg runs until 2029.
Coach Carles Martínez admitted on Thursday that the new signing's arrival was an open secret. "Of course everyone knows he's here. I can't hide that – the pictures are there," said the 42-year-old. However, Diaby will not be available for the season opener on Saturday at 15:30 against newly-promoted SV Elversberg, which will be broadcast on Sky. Martínez stated, "I think it's very difficult for him to already be part of the group." The winger's medical examination is still pending.
To create space and potentially funds for further transfers, the club plans to reduce the squad size. The 19-year-old centre-back Axel Tape is a candidate for a loan move. Jeanuel Belocian (21), who was most recently on loan at VfL Wolfsburg, could also depart again. French cup winners RC Lens have expressed concrete interest in the defender.
Another player in the spotlight is striker Martin Terrier. The 29-year-old is a target for his former club Stade Rennes, as well as OSC Lille. According to French media, however, Rennes only wants to loan the attacker. Bayer Leverkusen insists on a purchase option. Terrier's salary is reportedly currently a stumbling block for Lille. The current team composition can be viewed on our squad page.
Bayer Leverkusen's sporting management is acting strategically during this transfer-intensive period. After securing Diaby, work is now underway at full speed to find a solution for the right side of defence. Doué remains a desired target, but the finances must align. Parallel talks are ongoing regarding departures to make the squad, which scored 68 goals last season but conceded 47, more efficient.
The focus now also shifts to the season opener. The away game at Elversberg is the first step into a new campaign where the team seeks to close the gap to the top. In the final table, they finished 30 points behind Bayern Munich. The coming weeks will show how the squad finally takes shape and whether the targeted reinforcements can be realised.
