Manchester United duo heading to Bayer Leverkusen to play under Erik Ten Hag again? Florian Wirtz transfer to fund dream reunion: Report

After becoming the new Bayer Leverkusen manager, Erik ten Hag is finalising his transfer plans and the list includes two Manchester United stars, reports said. Dutchman Erik ten Hag was disgracefully sacked by Manchester United in October 2024, even though he won the EFL Cup and FA Cup, because the team's league performance remained dismal.

 

He had been unemployed until Leverkusen approached him to replace Xabi Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid in Spain. Leverkusen managed a domestic double under Xabi last season but need reinforcements as many of their starters including Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich) have decided to leave the club. 

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Before the new season, ETH reportedly wants to sign at least two of his former Manchester United players. His priorities have been identified as Antony and Alejandro Garnacho by TalkSport. 

Antony to Bundesliga?

Brazilian Antony, who played under ETH in Ajax, became the second costliest buy in United's history when he arrived at Old Trafford for £85.5 million in September 2022. However, he was soon declared a "flop" by the media and fans alike as the winger couldn't justify the price tag. Antony was a mere shadow of the player he was in the Netherlands, consistently delivering below-par performance even against modest rivals.  

 

But he managed to turn things around after managing a loan deal away from England. He joined La Liga's Real Betis and played a crucial role in taking them to the UEFA Conference League final. From 26 appearances across all competitions, Antony recorded 9 goals and 5 assists for the side, which secured a sixth-place finish in the Spanish top tier. Some of the goals he scored were absolute bangers, making people wonder if he was the same player who used to struggle with the ball at his feet in the Premier League. 

 

However, Real Betis lack the financial resources to make his move permanent. His current market value is estimated at around £17 million, and United are unlikely to offer any discounts, given their precarious position after failing to win the Europa League. Having finished 15th in England, the defeat to Tottenham ended their final hope of securing a European berth and denied them the revenue that participation in European competition would have brought. Thus, United are open to selling almost all of their current squad for the right price.

Loading: Garnacho's second innings under ETH

The second player on ETH's list is Alejandro Garnacho, who has become a pariah in the squad following his fallout with current gaffer Ruben Amorim. The Argentine winger, who made a name for himself under Erik ten Hag, openly voiced his dissatisfaction with being used only as a substitute in the final against Spurs. It is said that the academy graduate's relationship with Amorim is beyond repair and a transfer could save his upcoming season. 20-year-old Garnacho is worth at least  £47 million and the amount is pure profit for the Red Devils as he is a homegrown talent. Some reports claim that United may ask for a price slightly over £55 million for the attacker from potential buyers. 

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The sale of Wirtz should help Leverkusen raise the money needed to make some big purchases this summer. They could get around £126million for the midfielder, TalkSport said. It needs to be seen if the South American duo will reunite with their former manager on German soil next season. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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