Bayer Leverkusen close in on Guéla Doué as late window squad clearout accelerates

Bayer Leverkusen close in on Guéla Doué as late window squad clearout accelerates Bayer Leverkusen’s extensive summer rebuild could yet produce another major arrival before the transfer window closes, with Racing Strasbourg right-back Guéla Doué emerging as the club’s priority target. Kicker reports that Leverkusen have already secured the 23-year-old Cote d’Ivoire international’s basic commitment to a move. Doué is reportedly pushing for Strasbourg to release him, leaving the transfer fee as the principal remaining obstacle. Leverkusen are understood to be prepared to construct a package worth approximately €30m including bonuses. Strasbourg are seeking a figure closer to the €35m range occupied by recent Bayer signings such as Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman. Bayer have already spent close to €100m rebuilding the squad under Carles Martínez. Get German Football News’ 2026/27 Bayer Leverkusen tactical preview highlighted right-back as one of the few positions at which the Werkself still lacked an obvious first-choice solution despite possessing considerable numerical depth. Arthur, Lucas Vázquez, Tim Oermann and Axel Tape can all operate there, while Jarell Quansah is another possibility. None appears to have convinced Martinez sufficiently to preclude another significant investment. The movement elsewhere in the squad now increasingly resembles preparation for Doué’s arrival. Tape headed to Levante as Arthur negotiates HSV move Nineteen-year-old defender Axel Tape is set to spend the season on loan at UD Levante. Leverkusen and the Spanish club have reached a full agreement on a straight loan without a purchase option. Tape is consequently expected back under the Bayer cross next summer. The former Paris Saint-Germain prospect joined Leverkusen on a free transfer in 2025 and remains highly regarded internally. His path toward regular minutes under Martínez nevertheless remains blocked by heavy competition. Levante should offer the French youth international regular top-flight football, with reports suggesting the La Liga club could even deploy the versatile youngster primarily as a defensive midfielder. Arthur could follow Tape out of the club. Florian Plettenberg reports that Hamburger SV have reached a basic verbal agreement with the 23-year-old Brazilian over a season-long loan without a purchase option. Hamburg continue to consider other options at right-back , including Genk defender Zakaria El Ouahdi. Poku and Palacios have already departed The Werkself have already completed two notable outgoing deals this week. Ernest Poku joined Beşiktaş on a season-long loan. GGFN covered the Dutch attacker’s departure and Leverkusen’s wider efforts to reduce the squad . Kicker reports that Beşiktaş will pay a €3m loan fee, while a conditional purchase obligation worth approximately €20m is included in the agreement. Leverkusen are also expected to retain a sell-on percentage. Poku departs only one year after arriving from AZ Alkmaar for approximately €10m plus bonuses. Exequiel Palacios has also left the BayArena permanently. Ipswich Town completed the signing of the Argentine international on a contract through 2030 after several rounds of negotiations with Leverkusen. The Premier League club officially listed the fee as undisclosed, while Sky Germany previously reported a €25m base sum plus another €5m in potential bonuses. Palacios’ departure removes a player whom Leverkusen had still projected as an important central-midfield option entering the campaign. The 27-year-old spent six-and-a-half years with die Werkself and made 186 competitive appearances, playing a major role in the unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double. More Leverkusen departures remain possible The squad reduction may not end with Poku, Palacios, Tape and potentially Arthur. Robert Andrich continues to face an uncertain future after losing his captaincy and dropping down the midfield hierarchy under Martínez. Edmond Tapsoba’s elevation to the captaincy further underlined Andrich’s changed status within the squad. Jeanuël Belocian could also leave before the deadline. Several Bundesliga clubs have reportedly expressed interest in the French defender, with Leverkusen open to either a loan or permanent transfer. Veteran attacker Jonas Hofmann represents another unresolved case. Leverkusen would prefer to move the 34-year-old on before the window closes, while Saudi club Al-Shabab have reportedly presented him with a lucrative offer. The cumulative movement reflects the scale of Leverkusen’s reconstruction. Poku and Palacios are gone. Tape is heading to Spain. Arthur could remain in the Bundesliga with Hamburg. Andrich, Belocian and Hofmann all retain uncertain futures. At the same time, Leverkusen are attempting to commit another approximately €30m to Doué. The final days of the window therefore remain less about minor corrections than completing the shape of Martínez’s new squad. GGFN  |  Peter Weis