Bayer Leverkusen is eyeing another significant addition to its squad before the transfer window closes, focusing on Racing Strasbourg right-back Guéla Doué as a priority target. According to Kicker, the 23-year-old Ivorian international has expressed his desire to make the move, with the transfer fee being the main remaining challenge.

Leverkusen is reportedly willing to construct a deal valued at around €30 million, inclusive of bonuses. However, Strasbourg is aiming for a figure closer to €35 million, which aligns with the amounts of recent acquisitions like Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman. Under the management of Carles Martínez, Leverkusen has already invested nearly €100 million in reshaping the team.

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The right-back position remains one of the few spots without a clear first-choice player, although options like Arthur, Lucas Vázquez, Tim Oermann, and Axel Tape provide numerical depth. Jarell Quansah also fits into the mix. Nonetheless, none of these players have definitively established themselves, prompting Leverkusen to consider another major investment.

The ongoing movements in the squad reflect preparations for Doué’s expected arrival.

Axel Tape Loaned to Levante as Arthur Stays in Transfer Talks

Nineteen-year-old defender Axel Tape is set to be loaned to UD Levante for the season. Bayer Leverkusen and the Spanish club have finalized an agreement for a straight loan without a purchase option, with Tape expected to return to Leverkusen next summer. After joining from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2025, he remains a valuable asset, although competition limits his playing time.

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Levante is anticipated to provide Tape with regular first-team play, with suggestions that he may also be utilized as a defensive midfielder. Meanwhile, Arthur is reportedly in talks for a loan move to Hamburger SV. As reported by Florian Plettenberg, Hamburger SV has reached a basic verbal agreement with the 23-year-old Brazilian for a season-long loan, but without a purchase clause.

Hamburg is reviewing additional options at right-back, including Genk defender Zakaria El Ouahdi.

Recent Departures Include Poku and Palacios

Leverkusen has already completed two significant outgoing transfers this week. Ernest Poku is heading to Beşiktaş on a season-long loan, with reports highlighting a €3 million loan fee and a conditional purchase obligation estimated at around €20 million. Leverkusen is set to retain a sell-on percentage as part of this deal.

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Poku’s departure comes just one year after he joined from AZ Alkmaar for approximately €10 million plus bonuses. Alongside Poku, Exequiel Palacios has also secured a permanent move away from the BayArena. Ipswich Town has officially signed the Argentine international on a contract running until 2030, with the transfer fee remaining undisclosed but previously reported to be around €25 million, plus €5 million in potential bonuses.

Palacios’ exit removes a significant option from Leverkusen’s midfield after he played an integral role in the team’s success, including winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.

Leverkusen Open to Further Departures

The overhaul of the squad may not conclude with the exits of Poku, Palacios, Tape, and possibly Arthur. Robert Andrich’s future is uncertain following his loss of captaincy and subsequent reduction in midfield prominence. The promotion of Edmond Tapsoba to captaincy highlights Andrich’s diminished role.

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Additionally, defender Jeanuël Belocian could be on the move before the transfer deadline, with numerous Bundesliga clubs reportedly interested in either a loan or permanent transfer. Veteran forward Jonas Hofmann also represents another ongoing situation for the club. Leverkusen aims to finalize Hofmann’s transfer before the window closes while Al-Shabab from Saudi Arabia has reportedly made an appealing offer.

The collective movements illustrate the scale of Bayer Leverkusen’s reconstruction efforts, with Poku and Palacios having departed, Tape loaned to Spain, and Arthur potentially staying in the Bundesliga. The fates of Andrich, Belocian, and Hofmann remain in flux as the club also aims to add Doué to its roster.

The final days of the transfer window reflect a focus on shaping the new squad under Martínez.

Bayer Leverkusen’s extensive summer rebuild could yet produce another major arrival before the transfer window closes, with Racing Strasbourg right-back Guéla Doué emerging as the club’s priority target. Kicker reports that Leverkusen have already secured the 23-year-old Cote d’Ivoire international’s basic commitment to a move. Doué is reportedly pushing for Strasbourg to release him, leaving the transfer fee as the principal remaining obstacle.

Leverkusen are understood to be prepared to construct a package worth approximately €30m including bonuses. Strasbourg are seeking a figure closer to the €35m range occupied by recent Bayer signings such as Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman. Bayer have already spent close to €100m rebuilding the squad under Carles Martínez.

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Get German Football News’ 2026/27 Bayer Leverkusen tactical preview highlighted right-back as one of the few positions at which the Werkself still lacked an obvious first-choice solution despite possessing considerable numerical depth. Arthur, Lucas Vázquez, Tim Oermann and Axel Tape can all operate there, while Jarell Quansah is another possibility. None appears to have convinced Martinez sufficiently to preclude another significant investment.

The movement elsewhere in the squad now increasingly resembles preparation for Doué’s arrival.

Tape headed to Levante as Arthur negotiates HSV move

Nineteen-year-old defender Axel Tape is set to spend the season on loan at UD Levante. Leverkusen and the Spanish club have reached a full agreement on a straight loan without a purchase option. Tape is consequently expected back under the Bayer cross next summer. The former Paris Saint-Germain prospect joined Leverkusen on a free transfer in 2025 and remains highly regarded internally. His path toward regular minutes under Martínez nevertheless remains blocked by heavy competition.

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Levante should offer the French youth international regular top-flight football, with reports suggesting the La Liga club could even deploy the versatile youngster primarily as a defensive midfielder. Arthur could follow Tape out of the club. Florian Plettenberg reports that Hamburger SV have reached a basic verbal agreement with the 23-year-old Brazilian over a season-long loan without a purchase option.

Hamburg continue to consider other options at right-back, including Genk defender Zakaria El Ouahdi.

Poku and Palacios have already departed

The Werkself have already completed two notable outgoing deals this week. Ernest Poku joined Beşiktaş on a season-long loan. GGFN covered the Dutch attacker’s departure and Leverkusen’s wider efforts to reduce the squad. Kicker reports that Beşiktaş will pay a €3m loan fee, while a conditional purchase obligation worth approximately €20m is included in the agreement. Leverkusen are also expected to retain a sell-on percentage.

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Poku departs only one year after arriving from AZ Alkmaar for approximately €10m plus bonuses. Exequiel Palacios has also left the BayArena permanently. Ipswich Town completed the signing of the Argentine international on a contract through 2030 after several rounds of negotiations with Leverkusen. The Premier League club officially listed the fee as undisclosed, while Sky Germany previously reported a €25m base sum plus another €5m in potential bonuses.

Palacios’ departure removes a player whom Leverkusen had still projected as an important central-midfield option entering the campaign. The 27-year-old spent six-and-a-half years with die Werkself and made 186 competitive appearances, playing a major role in the unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double.

More Leverkusen departures remain possible

The squad reduction may not end with Poku, Palacios, Tape and potentially Arthur. Robert Andrich continues to face an uncertain future after losing his captaincy and dropping down the midfield hierarchy under Martínez. Edmond Tapsoba’s elevation to the captaincy further underlined Andrich’s changed status within the squad.

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Jeanuël Belocian could also leave before the deadline. Several Bundesliga clubs have reportedly expressed interest in the French defender, with Leverkusen open to either a loan or permanent transfer. Veteran attacker Jonas Hofmann represents another unresolved case.

Leverkusen would prefer to move the 34-year-old on before the window closes, while Saudi club Al-Shabab have reportedly presented him with a lucrative offer. The cumulative movement reflects the scale of Leverkusen’s reconstruction. Poku and Palacios are gone. Tape is heading to Spain. Arthur could remain in the Bundesliga with Hamburg. Andrich, Belocian and Hofmann all retain uncertain futures.

At the same time, Leverkusen are attempting to commit another approximately €30m to Doué.

The final days of the window therefore remain less about minor corrections than completing the shape of Martínez’s new squad.

GGFN | Peter Weis