'The Agent Can Say Anything': Bayer Leverkusen Boss Erik Ten Hag Steadfast On Retaining Granit Xhaka
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik Ten Hag stated his intent to hold on to midfielder Granit Xhaka following talk of the Swiss star's exit from the Bundesliga giants made the rounds online a day earlier.
Ten Hag, who replaced Xabi Alonso at the German outfit, opined that the club has already lost a couple of key players in the transfer market and would like to hold on to the 32-year-old midfielder.
'The agent can say anything. But this club has already lost three important players," the Dutchman said.
Leverkusen had to endure the departures of star midfielder Florian Wirtz, fullback Jeremie Frimpong, as the duo joined Premier League champions Liverpool, and stopper back Jonathan Tah made the switch to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
'We won't let any more players go, that's not possible," he revealed his desire to hold on to the existing members of the squad.
'That would neglect the structure and also the culture of the squad," the 55-year-old head coach explained.
'It's clear – Granit is a leader, he has signed here for five years and has three years left on his contract," the former Manchester United boss said.
'He's too important for us to let him go," he concluded.
Ten Hag, who had to endure a testing period at Premier League side Manchester United after a glorious stint at Dutch unit Ajax.
The Dutchman had to witness a shambolic performance form the German side in his first game in charge of the 2023/24 champions as Leverkusen went down 1-5 in tame fashion to Brazilian side Flamengo's U20 unit in a behind-closed doors friendly. The former Ajax boss will look for a turn of fortunes as he gears up for a string of club friendlies at the helm of Die Werkself.
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