Football Season Guide

Bayer Leverkusen needed a change at the helm midway through the campaign but an excellent half of the season ensured they just about finished inside the top four and returned to the Champions League after a gap of two years. Bayer have had a fairly busy summer with the club once again looking at young players to improve their squad. Kerem Demirbay represents their oldest arrival at 25 years of age and will boost Peter Bosz's options in the center of the midfield. Moussa Diaby and Nadiem Amiri will also improve the creativity in the attack while Daley Sinkgraven will provide competition to Wendell at leftback, something which they lacked last season. There have been departures though with Julian Brandt the biggest name, having been sold to Borussia Dortmund. Isaac Thelin chipped with a few appearances last season but his loan deal was not renewed while Thorsten Kirschbaum and Tomasz Kucz have also left the club though Bayer are well stocked in the goalkeeping department. Bosz has brought together an attack comprising of exciting young players and Bayer are expected to score goals this season especially with Kai Havertz and Leon Bailey showing signs of being effective players under the Dutch coach. Bayer's weakest link though remains at the back where they have failed to make improvements so far. Both Lars and Sven Bender are natural midfielders converted into playing at right and center back respectively while Tin Jedvaj and Aleksandar Dragovic are yet to convince they can be effective backups for the first choice defenders. With Wendell also not exactly renowned for his defensive capabilities, the back four will need extensive support from the midfield if Bayer are to keep teams out this season.