Brentford reject €9m Bayer Leverkusen offer for Mark Flekken
Bayer Leverkusen's opening bid for Brentford keeper Mark Flekken has reportedly been rejected. The Athletic currently reports that the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions did not meet the London club's initial asking price of approximately €13m. In point of fact, a lowball bid of approximately €9m was submitted.
One tends to assume that a deal will still be reached at some point. The 31-year-old is said to have agreed to personal terms with Germany's red company team. Prior to his move to the Bees, the eight-times-capped Dutch international's entire professional career was spent in Germany.
Advertisement
An extra €3m amounts to peanuts for Germany's red company team, particularly after completing the sale of Jeremie Frimpong on Friday evening and the mega-blockbuster deal that should see Florian Wirtz move Merseyside for upwards of €130m.
Official confirmation may still take time as Brentford will also not allow Flekken to depart before securing a replacement.
GGFN | Peter Weis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool report: Florian Wirtz 'secret meeting' bombshell could decide star's future
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Arne Slot wants Florian Wirtz. | Credit: Getty Images Bayern Munich and Liverpool are battling for one of European football's most exciting talents. Arne Slot is looking to strengthen his squad after a remarkable first season in England, which saw him lift the Premier League with Liverpool. Advertisement The same is true of Bayern, who collected the Bundesliga title in Vincent Kompany's debut campaign, meaning both sides should be in a financially healthy position. Bayern to block Liverpool's advances on top-rated European midfielder Beating Bayern to a top-level target would be an incredible start to the summer for Liverpool | Credit: Getty Images But both will want to go deeper into next year's Champions League competition that they did this time around, and they've landed on the same candidate to help them get there. Die Roten are now making moves to ensure they come out on top. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz is one of Europe's most exciting rising stars | Credit: Getty Images Bayern have reportedly set up a secret meeting with Florian Wirtz this week to strengthen their chances of signing the Bayer Leverkusen attacker, according to the Bayern Insider podcast. Advertisement It follows news from Bayern Insider host Christian Falk last week that Liverpool convened a meeting of their own with the player in Blackpool to try and convince him of their project. Kompany's side have long been thought to be in the driving seat for Wirtz – ranked at no.3 in FourFourTwo's list of the best attacking midfielders in the world right now – but Liverpool's moves appears to have shocked the German giants into action. Sky Sports Germany earlier this year reported Leverkusen would only listen to offers above €120m. Wirtz has 31 goal involvements in 45 appearances across all competitions this season | Credit: Getty Images In FourFourTwo's opinion, if Liverpool pulled this move off, it would be a momentous coup. Advertisement Blackpool may not be the most glamorous venue to woo Wirtz (let's hope he likes rock, arcades and rainy beaches), but it's clearly had enough impact to kick Bayern into gear. The best players in Germany ending up at the Allianz Arena is usually little more than a procession. Could the Reds break that mould? Wirtz is valued at €140m, according to Transfermarkt. Liverpool next face Crystal Palace, where they will lift the league title, when Premier League action returns this weekend.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Three ways Tottenham can line up under Thomas Frank: James Maddison perfect fit; key role for Brennan Johnson
While Ange Postecoglou did eventually adapt his style at Tottenham in their run to Europa League glory, his lack of tactical flexibility was a major issue behind the decline in Premier League form that led to his downfall. But that won't be the case with Thomas Frank. 'Adaptability or tactical flexibility is something I believe a lot in,' said Frank during his seven successful years in charge of Brentford. Advertisement Frank favours a possession-based style of football but the Dane is willing to switch his tactical approach in different scenarios and against different opponents. Brentford played expansive, front-foot football in the Championship but went with a more pragmatic approach after they were promoted to the Premier League. Frank has used a number of different formations at Brentford. Here, Standard Sport looks at how Spurs could line up under their new head coach. Frank's Brentford switched systems fluently (Getty Images) 4-2-3-1 This was a formation Brentford used frequently as they secured a top-half finish last season. Right winger Bryan Mbeumo and striker Yoanna Wissa excelled in the system, scoring 39 Premier League goals between them. Advertisement But Mikkel Damsgaard was the real star as the No10 and was voted the Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at Brentford's end-of-season awards. If Frank is to use such a formation at Spurs then it could play into the hands of James Maddison, who would surely relish a role like Damsgaard's. James Maddison will hope to have a key role under Frank (Getty Images) Maddison has shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Spurs, but he has failed to consistently recreate the form he showed at Leicester. A creative No10 could also help bring the best out of Dominic Solanke upfront and Heung-min Son on the flanks. Possible line-up: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke 3-5-2 Frank was more than happy to use a back-three at Brentford, especially when he wanted to frustrate teams. Advertisement The Bees would play direct and hit teams on the counter, utilising the pace offered by the likes of Kevin Schade and Mbeumo. Tottenham have the personnel in their squad to play with a back-three and it could also allow help Frank get Archie Gray into the team. Brentford tried to sign Gray before he joined Spurs last summer and the teenager, or more likely Kevin Danso, could line up in a back-three alongside Cristian Romero (if he is still around) and Micky Van de Ven. Switching to a back-three would be good news for Archie Gray and Kevin Danso (Nick Potts/PA Wire) Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro are both suited to playing as wing-backs, which is another plus of Frank using a 3-5-2 formation. The biggest question would be who partners Solanke upfront, but Son has played through the middle before and a change in position could help him after a mixed season. Advertisement Possible line-up: Vicario; Gray, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bergvall, Udogie; Solanke, Son 4-3-3 Brentford shifted from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 system at times last season, and to good effect. When playing with three forwards, Frank often fielded the pacy trio of Mbeumo, Schade and Wissa. A similar set up with Spurs would suit someone like Brennan Johnson, another player Frank tried to sign for Brentford. Johnson is an ideal fit for a wide spot in Frank's counter-attacking 4-3-3 system because of his pace. Frank's plans for Brennan Johnson will be fascinating (AFP via Getty Images) It would also play into the hands of Wilson Odobert, who has only shown glimpses of his potential so far since moving to Spurs. Advertisement The biggest debate in such a system would be who lines up in midfield for Tottenham if they are not playing with a conventional No10. Dejan Kulusevski may find himself as one of two No8s given his athleticism, while Lucas Bergvall could thrive in a similar role after a strong first season. Possible line-up: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Odobert.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Atlético Madrid weigh up move for Liverpool's Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson is the subject of interest from Atlético Madrid as Liverpool edge closer towards the signing of the Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez for a fee of about £40m. The Premier League champions planned to sign Kerkez to compete with the long-serving 31-year-old Scotland defender but are relaxed about the interest. Liverpool are not yet thought to have received any formal contact. The trigger for Kerkez's move is expected to be Bournemouth's signing of the Rennes left-back Adrien Truffert. The 23-year-old Rennes captain, who received interest from other clubs, has agreed personal terms and is expected to cost about £15m. Advertisement Related: Liverpool reject Barcelona approach for Luis Díaz but contract issue looms Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'. If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you're on the most recent version. In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications. Turn on sport notifications. Robertson, who is into the final 12 months of his contract, recently discussed the arrival of 'new blood' at Anfield this summer. Jeremie Frimpong has signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m, while Florian Wirtz is poised to follow in a deal worth a guaranteed £100m. The Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, a star of Euro 2024, will complete his move from Valencia after last summer's £29m deal. 'We've had good discussions with me and the club but what the future holds I am not sure,' Robertson said last week, while on international duty with Scotland. 'When you play for a big club like Liverpool you expect challenges, you expect competition and I have always faced that, everyone here has faced that in their own positions and I expect nothing less. 'I want the club to be ambitious, they are doing that and wherever we fit into that, if we're happy with our role, we stay and we do it and if not then I am sure there will be a few out the door as well. But, you know, that's the nature of football and it's one of the biggest clubs in the world and we keep moving.'
