Erik Ten Hag has officially been appointed as the new manager of Bayer Leverkusen, marking a major development in European football management. Ten Hag, who recently left Manchester United, is set to bring his tactical acumen to the Bundesliga side as they prepare for the upcoming season.
At the same time, Real Madrid has confirmed Xabi Alonso as their new head coach, beginning a promising new era for the Spanish giants. Alonso expressed his enthusiasm, saying, *“This is a very special day that I will remember for life… I have the feeling that this is the beginning of a new era.”* His appointment follows Carlo Ancelotti’s departure to manage Brazil, with fans hopeful Alonso can replicate his playing success as a coach.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have reportedly submitted a €100 million plus add-ons offer to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz. The German talent has seemingly rejected Manchester City, putting Liverpool in pole position to sign him. Additionally, the Reds are eyeing Hugo Ekitike as a potential replacement should Darwin Núñez depart. Arsenal are pushing to retain Thomas Partey while pursuing Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to strengthen their midfield. The Gunners have also initiated talks with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and are considering a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
Contract negotiations with Viktor Gyökeres are progressing, with a deal until 2030 on the table. Manchester United have held discussions with Brentford’s Bryan Mbuemo, though the €59.5 million asking price could complicate a deal. Meanwhile, Napoli are closing in on Kevin De Bruyne, with sporting director Giovanni Manna confirming, *“We’ve been working on the deal for months… we’re now about to see the finish line.”* In managerial news, Tottenham’s Ryan Mason is the leading candidate to take over at West Brom. Aston Villa are in talks for Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, while Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham is set to visit Eintracht Frankfurt for transfer talks. Simone Inzaghi has addressed rumors linking him to Saudi club Al-Hilal, stating his focus remains on Inter Milan’s upcoming final. Meanwhile, Luka Modrić will leave Real Madrid after 13 legendary years, departing as the club’s most decorated player with 28 trophies. As the transfer window heats up, clubs are racing to finalize deals and managerial appointments. With Alonso at Real Madrid and Ten Hag at Leverkusen, alongside high-profile player movements, the football landscape is set for a transformative summer. The coming months will be crucial in shaping the future of European football.