BAYER LEVERKUSEN SPARK INTEREST IN VICTOR BONIFACE FROM UNION SAINT-GILLOISE

As reported by Bild, Bayer Leverkusen will react to the continued injury problems of Patrik Schick by targeting Union Saint-Gilloise striker Victor Boniface.

The Nigerian striker is well thought of in the Leverkusen camp, especially after the Europa League quarter-finals last season where the 22-year-old gave the Belgian side a 1-0 lead during the first leg. Nevertheless, with three years left on his current deal, Union will not allow the striker to leave without receiving a lucrative offer.

What has concerned the hierarchy at Die Werkself, however, is the Nigerian’s injury record. He has previously sustained two cruciate ligament tears while playing in Norway, and another injury-prone striker is undoubtedly not ideal for Leverkusen.

Nonetheless, last season, Boniface appeared 51 times for Union where he scored 17 goals and collected 12 assists. Far more than just a goalscorer, Boniface can act as the perfect foil for a fellow strike partner.

While there is certainly interest in the Nigerian striker, Leverkusen have not closed the door on other potential targets. The profiles of Wout Weghorst and Niclas Füllkrug still appeal to the Werkself and both are still being discussed internally.

Sacha Tavolieri is reporting that Bayer Leverkusen are leading the race to sign Union St Gilloise’s Nigerian striker Victor Boniface. Everton were reportedly looking into the prospect of signing the 22-year-old, but it appears that Bayer Leverkusen have now put themselves firmly in the driving seat. According to Tavolieri, Boniface is also keen on the move. He was part of the Union side that lost to Leverkusen during the 2022/2023 Europa League quarter-finals.

Boniface only joined Union last season from Bodo/Glimt, where he had scored 21 goals in 65 games. In 51 games for Union, he scored 17 times. His best performances came during the Europa League campaign, where he managed to grab six goals in 10 games. In the Pro League he scored nine goals in 37 games, but also amassed an impressive eight assists.

Union are hoping to receive a club record fee for the striker so Leverkusen will have to spend a reasonably large amount of money in terms of Belgian football to secure the deal. The side have already lost a number of players this season, with Siebe Van der Heyden moving to Spanish side Mallorca. Captain Teddy Teuma has moved to France to join Reims, while fellow Moroccan defender Ismaël Kandouss has remained in Belgium but moved to Gent.

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Aston Villa have reportedly been rebuffed in their first effort to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby.

The West Midlands outfit are currently preparing for a return to continental football after a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League secured a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.

Unai Emery and the club’s hierarchy have responded by making the high-profile additions of Villarreal defender Pau Torres and Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Faith will be kept in much of the squad that delivered from November onwards, yet more fresh faces are expected to arrive at Villa Park in due course.

Despite Emery’s side being free-scoring under his watch, at least one new attacker should be brought in to bolster their options in the final third.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that Villa were contemplating whether to make a formal bid for AC Milan’s Charles De Ketelaere, yet it now appears that priority is being given to an alternative.

According to the Daily Mail, Villa have failed with a £30m bid for in-demand winger Diaby.

The France international has established himself as one of the standout players in the Bundesliga, contributing 22 goals and 21 assists across the last two campaigns in Germany’s top flight.

A total of 49 strikes and 48 assists have been posted in 172 outings since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, but it appears that the 24-year-old is likely to take on a new challenge this summer.

Although Diaby still has two years left on his contract, Leverkusen are prepared to cash in on the versatile forward for the right price, even with Europa League football having been secured for another campaign.

While the German outfit are said to value Diaby closer to £50m, Villa are being tipped to return with a fresh offer in an effort to get a deal over the line.

Diaby is reportedly keen to sign for a Premier League club with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United having also been credited with an interest in the past.

Villa are well stocked for options in the final third, yet they may consider offers for the likes of Leon Bailey, Bertrand Traore and Philippe Coutinho.

Of the three, Bailey would generate the highest transfer fee, even having only chipped in with six goals and six assists from 54 appearances since departing Leverkusen for Villa in 2021.