There is a place to be filled in Leverkusen’s central defence alongside Jonathan Tah. Three candidates are possible.
Earlier than many of its rivals, namely two days before New Year’s Eve, Bayer Leverkusen is starting its preparations for the second half of the season. In fact, one could – slightly mockingly – get the idea that Gerardo Seoane’s team indeed has enough to work on and improve. A more favourable starting position for the second half of the season was squandered too negligently, and the problems have long been recognised. The mood under the Bayer cross in the coming months will depend on whether they can be remedied.
And it won’t be any easier for the coach. Two centre-backs will be missing for the first games of the second half of the season, both Edmond Tapsoba (for Burkina Faso) and Odilon Kossounou (for Côte d’Ivoire) will be playing with their national teams at the Africa Cup, which will be played in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February.
A trio to help
A circumstance that affects several professionals at once. Piero Hincapié (20), for example – one of the discoveries of the first half of the season as a left-back – could move into central defence and do his job alongside Jonathan Tah. The Greek Panos Retsos (23) has long flirted with a move at the winter break, but now he can definitely count on a place next to Tah. And finally, there is Timothy Fosu-Mensah (23). The Dutchman, who was signed a year ago, has recovered from his cruciate ligament rupture and wants to make a fresh start. The coaching team sees the right-back as an alternative in the centre of defence.
Fosu-Mensah, Retsos, Hincapié – a trio that should help Bayer through the time without Tapsoba and Kossounou. Under no circumstances will an additional player be signed for this position, the ones who are there will have to do the job. It is unclear who Seoane has in mind. What points to Hincapié is the fact that he is the only left-footer among the candidates. And as a centre-back he plays for the Ecuadorian national team as well as for his previous clubs.
