The title is secured, and there shouldn’t be any problems in the DFB Cup final against Kaiserslautern, while the Europa League finale and clashes with Roma come as a kind of reward for the fantastic season of the team from the Allianz Arena. All in all, Leverkusen can relax when it comes to competitive goals – although, in recent days, the dream of the treble has been on many lips – but when it comes to the market and planning the team for the next season, Simon Rolfes and his associates are working at full speed. In agreement with Xabi Alonso, the new German champions have allegedly targeted the first reinforcement for the next season. As reported by Bild, it’s the young Spanish defender Rafa Marin (21), a player developed at Real Madrid, who stood out during this season on loan at Alaves. In recent days, news from Spain suggests that Carlo Ancelotti is counting on this guy for the next season, especially after Nacho Fernandes’ (34) decision to leave Madrid. However, there are also some hints that Real could sign a cheap defender to be an alternative to Alaba, Rüdiger, and Militao, while continuing to develop Rafa Marin at a higher level – in a serious club in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.🚨 JUST IN: Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Rafa Marín. @BILD pic.twitter.com/sOfNB8gfR2— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) April 24, 2024 The chances of the Royal Club agreeing to a sale without a buyback clause are minimal because they see great potential in Marin, just like Xabi Alonso does. Hence, it’s worth recalling the case of Dani Carvajal, who came from Castilla to Bayer in 2012 for five million euros, had an excellent season, and then returned after just 12 months for 6,500,000, becoming what he is today – the indispensable right-back for Real all these years. The role of Xabi Alonso is particularly interesting throughout the story. Speculations that he should take over the Madrid giant after Ancelotti retires actually go hand in hand with this story about Rafa Marin. In theory, the young defender would spend a year or two with Alonso, work under his command at Bayer, and then be fully prepared to join him at Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2025 or 2026 and become an important part of the defence.Guinean beast has been terrorizing Bundesliga, and AC Milan are desperate to ink himBayer is aware that it will be difficult to retain their trio of centre-backs (Tapsoba, Kossounou, Tah) after such a season, which is why they plan to enter the market and bring in at least one central defender. There is a lot of interest in Jonathan Tah (28), and he only has one year left on his contract, which complicates negotiations for a new contract and reduces his price.”We want to keep Jonathan. We will discuss this at the end of the season; now the focus is on the Europa League and achieving maximum success. Tah thinks similarly” said Simon Rolfes. It’s clear that there are desires and then there are possibilities, especially if Bayern bites, as rumored. That’s why it’s not surprising that Rolfes is working on multiple fronts. In addition to Rafa Marin, another option is reportedly 21-year-old Italian Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 31Friday21:30: (2.25) Bochum (3.60) Hoffenheim (3.05)Saturday16:30: (1.68) RB Leipzig (4.00) Dortmund (4.90)16:30: (2.30) Freiburg (3.40) Wolfsburg (3.10)16:30: (1.85) Augsburg (3.60) Werder (4.30)16:30: (1.43) Bayern (4.60) Eintr.Frankfurt (7.25)16:30: (2.30) M’ gladbach (3.45) Union Berlin (3.30)Sunday18:30: (1.58) Mainz (4.00) Koln (5.90)20:30: (3.60) Darmstadt (3.60) Heidenheim (2.15)***odds are subject to change***
