Have Bayer Leverkusen outgrown Leverkusen?

On the backs of a fantastic campaign, Bayer Leverkusen have plans in place to grow revenue despite being in one of Germany's smaller markets.

Whether it was the 88th-minute equalizer against VfB Stuttgart in the DFL Supercup or the 101st-minute winner against Borussia Mönchengladbach to kickstart the Bundesliga—it appears this season will be much of the same for Leverkusen, at least on the pitch. Things haven’t entirely changed as much off the pitch for the Bundesliga title holders.

Whether Jeremie Frimpong or Jonathan Tah, key players remained with the club or at least looked to stay in Leverkusen with just 48 hours left in the transfer window. The only semi-notable player to go was Adam Hlozek. The Czech striker joined Hoffenheim in a €18m deal. Finally, earlier this week, Leverkusen’s transfer window saw some action, with Odilon Kossounou heading to Atalanta and Nordi Mukiele arriving from PSG.

With a lack of outgoings, Leverkusen were perhaps also a bit more conservative regarding new signings. Besides Mukiele, only three new players arrived this summer: Aleix Garcia (Girona), Martin Terrier, and Jeanuël Belocian (Stade Rennais). Leverkusen were in talks to sign Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg and also wanted Arthur Vermeeren. But the Dutch defender joined Brentford instead, and the Belgian midfielder chose to join Saturday’s opponent Leipzig.

“We wanted to refresh the squad with new signings,” Leverkusen director of sport Simon Rolfes said to Gegenpressing as part of a media round table ahead of the Supercup. “And we signed a defender, midfielder, and an attacking player. So, in each part of the squad, there is more competition and maybe a new hierarchy.” 

Reading between the lines, director of sport Simon Rolfes perhaps hoped for a bit more change this summer. “We only have the fourth highest budget in the league,” Rolfes said when asked about transfers. “The budget didn’t change just because we won the title.”