What? He has just extended his contract long term - if he goes to the Saudi league, it would have to be a massive buyout
German Football 2024/25
- Thread starter SilentWitness
- Start date
Would have to be a €60m+ offer I would think. They have Schick but do they really want to rely on him to make a Buli rund and compete for CL glory?
Would be quite the statement from Leverkusen, if they were to sell him. And not in a good way. But until now it only seems to be gossip and no great sources.
Would seem very weird considering we just extended him. The only reason I can imagine is that he's not seeing after himself as well as he could be, especially for a player who already sustained two ACL ruptures with his frame and playstyle. We'd definitely need another top striker, though, since Schick can't be trusted to go through a whole season without a multiple weeks long injury. So I'd say very unlikely. Rather hope Alonso finds a way to play both Schick and Boniface simultaenously. Maybe Boniface can play a shadow striker role as well, especially after Adli's and Terrier's injuries.
It seems like Boniface is going, showing his ambition - money before football.
Crazy development, didn't see that coming at all. There have to be doubts regarding his professionalism and/or ability to stay injury-free, can't think of any other explanation.
Didn't he get into a car crash (as a passenger) only to be filmed few weeks later using his phone while driving on the Autobahn a few months ago? Causing doubts about his attitude in general? I could imagine that this wasn't an exception but kind of typical behaviour for him, which would justify doubting his professionalism as well.
If I'm not mistaken the issue was rather that said car crash happened at 4 am after a Bundesliga match. He also has had two major muscle injuries while playing for us and at least one of them with a setback of multiple weeks. So there are at least doubts if he puts as much emphasis on regeneration as a 1.90m explosive target striker that likes to play with lots of explosive changes of direction and always finds himself in physical duels and akready sustained two ACLs in his early 20s should. Compare that to Kane who suffers a minor muscle injury and has his wife drive him to the check-up on the next day just in case.
My guess would be that Boniface was open to the offer and we thought that the risk was too big that we miss out on a lot of money because he develops a reputation as being too injury-prone. He hasn't really been as good as in 2023 either since he came back towards the end of last season.
Oh wow. I wasn't even aware that there was an actual issue about that crash as well. Just mentioned it to show that he should be especially aware about driving risks.
Don't see why that should be an issue actually. So he went out at night when he had the night free and the next day free - so what? That's exactly when you want your players to go out at night, as opposed to doing it before a match or training session
I could understand if Leverkusen is interested in cashing in if they think this is as high as Boniface might ever go and the only way for him from here is down, both in terms of worth and sporting performance. But why Boniface would kill his career this early for a quick paycheck... why would he do that?
Though there are now reports that Al-Nassr is now also after Villa's Duran for the same transfer sum, and that this could mean that the Boniface transfer might fall through despite him already as good as transferred.
Though there are now reports that Al-Nassr is now also after Villa's Duran for the same transfer sum, and that this could mean that the Boniface transfer might fall through despite him already as good as transferred.
I don't know what money he is on at Leverkusen, but Saudi allegedly offers him €13.5m net wich is probaly 5-times as much.
I mean, ok, I get that he's getting paid an outrageous sum of money, but still it's for tossing his career into the blender before it even really took off. It's sacrificing his future for immediate profit. But I guess itt tracks with people claiming that he's not putting football front and center.
He’s had lots of issues with injuries. That might play into it. Take the money while you can. If he’s still fit enough in a few years, he can still go back to Europe.
I don’t like it. But I get it.
Yeah, hard to shit on someone with a volatile and short career as a footballer for taking a ludicrous offer. It's not great for the sport, but I don't blame the guy at all
Seems Boniface is staying and Nico Kovac coming to Dortmund.
Kovac at Dortmund will be so much fun! Can't wait for him to take credit for wins and throw players under the bus when they lose.
Don't forget that he always throws an established player out of the starting team (at least) as soon as he arrives to show who is boss.
Any bets who might be the victim of this? My money would be on Brandt I think.
Brandt or Can. But that would probably improve Dortmund.
Don't get the hatred for Brandt. Yea he hasn't fulfilled his potential but if anything he's been the best Dortmund player, other than Kobel, though he's struggled this season, over the past few seasons.
You can really trust the BVB to make the wrongest decision they could make in any given situation. Worst case for them is that he's actually moderately successful and stays for the full contract duration.
I'm not really hating Brandt, but I think he is the kind of player that Kovac wouldn't really get along with.
Yeah, I didn't phrase that well. I meant benching Can would probably improve Dortmund, but I can see Kovac benching either Can or Brandt.
Quite sussy deal by Leipzig - paying 81m + addons + sell on clause for Xavi Simons to PSG and contract only until 2027, so they maybe sell him already in the summer? Huh
Where do you get 81m + addons from? I'm reading €50m + up to €30m in addons, some of which are said to be unlikely to be triggered.
Yeah, those two are probably the worst possible fit personality-wise. I wonder if Dortmund will finally fire one or more of the decision makers if Kovac fails foreseeably
Romano, but the wording was so weird. Turns out it's 81m total, with addons now. Whether they are able to trigger any remains questionable. Still very sussy deal IMO.
The contract length is what's puzzling. As if they are counting the two loan years that have already passed. The German media are talking about a €50m fee and up to €30m in bonuses that are only due if Leipzig ‘achieve everything’.
Don't think it's a bad decision. I think he's the type of manager they need to get them stability. He isn't a tactical genius but certainly better than Terzic and Sahin, while also being a hard nose personality that can be strict with them, rather than the coddling Terzic and Sahin gave.
He has a winners mentality, Dortmund need that.
Bad impulse control and a tendency to blame others instead of looking at yourself first is a loser's mentality for me. And tactically, he's nowehere near the required level.
A bit like the German Mourinho. Likes to throw players under the bus and pretends to be a pragmatic coach when in reality he is just as idealistic as others, the only difference being that his ideal is negative instead of attractive and proactive football.
That aside, he's also vastly unpopular among Dortmund fans and won't get a fair chance. Which is kind of funny since the previous coach appointments all valued club DNA over competence. Now they've ditched the club DNA stuff and still didn't get someone competent
Why would any competent manager walk into that mess?
They need to sack Watzke, Sammer, Ricken, Kehl, Mislintat and start with a fresh and competent leadership before any competent manager would risk going there.
Apparently they only wanted Kovac as an interim but even Kovac could force them to offer an 18 months contract. Teils you all you need to know about how attractive that job is now.
Kovac will reinforce Dortmunds new place outside of Bundesligas top clubs.
I really believe that they will finish outside the top 4 more often than in the top 4 in the next few years.
Kovac may fit to this city and the club itself, but he is no fit for the current team at all, apart from maybe the likes of Ryerson or Beier.
I'm just sad that Hummels isn't there anymore. It would have taken only weeks until they would have blamed each other in interviews.
I really believe that they will finish outside the top 4 more often than in the top 4 in the next few years.
Kovac may fit to this city and the club itself, but he is no fit for the current team at all, apart from maybe the likes of Ryerson or Beier.
I'm just sad that Hummels isn't there anymore. It would have taken only weeks until they would have blamed each other in interviews.
If the level required is challenging for the title then I agree, he isn't at that level, but a lot more has to change for them to be at that level other than a high level manager.
As a stop gap, I think he's fine. I'd like to think he'll make them more solid overall and recover the horrible season they're having, they're still only 6 points off the top 4 places.
Which means he should be fine for 6 months. But Dortmund had to offer him 18 months
Which means he should be fine for 6 months. But Dortmund had to offer him 18 months
I'm sure Kovac pushed for it. Can't have everything your way.
That's my point. Dortmund is so weak as a club right now that Niko kovac can bully them into giving him a contract they don't want.
Very well put.
Eintracht ultras are left wing yeah?
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe they are positioned neither left nor right. But they usually have a bunch of violent idiots with them.
Also: can someone explain that Xavi Simmons transfer to me? Why are Leipzig paying €50m for a 2-year contract?
Heard that PSG wanted to loan out another player but were already at an UEFA limit so they sold Xavi to get one off the list. Leipzig will probably sell him in the summer but for a profit and PSG has more freedom in terms of transfers.