AEK emerge as suitors for Pohjanpalo, Iker Bravo loan could take time

Speaking to Stephan van Nocks of German footballing magazine Kicker, Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed that young Spanish attacking prospect Iker Bravo has been having integration issues. 

In an article posted on the magazine’s website, van Nocks also claims that AEK Athens have emerged as a potential suitor for fourth-string striker Joel Pohjanpalo. 

Whilst incoming transfer deals for the likes of Man City’s Sam Edozie and Ukrainian attacking midfielder Mykhaylo Mudryk continue to stall, it looks to be the case that two of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s outgoing transfers aren’t particularly far along either. Stephan van Nocks of Germany’s preeminent footballing publication reports that the club most actively seeking to solicit the services of Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo happens to be AEK Athens.

Pohjanpalo’s offloading this summer very much appears to be a forgone conclusion. The 27-year-old’s current projected position on the Bayer depth-chart leaves him behind Patrik Schick, Sardar Azmoun, and Adam Hlozek in a formation most likely to feature only one striker. This naturally does not mean that die Werkself wish to dispense with Pohjanpalo on the cheap; not after a 16-goal-campaign in the Turkish Süper Lig pumped his estimated market value back up to €2.5 million.

Van Nocks writes that Germany’s red company team are seeking €3 million for the Finn. Athens, on the other hand, aren’t so keen to shell out so much after paying a similar tab earlier in the summer for Hoffenheim’s Mijat Gacinovic. Regarding another transfer rumor involving Leverkusen, van Nocks cites direct quotes from club sporting director Simon Rolfes to confirm that Bayer are working on an extended loan for Spanish prospect Iker Bravo. This too could take some time as the German club must build in the proper type of purchase clause.

“He’s having something of a hard time integrating,” manager Rolfes acknowledged, in the process confirming rumors about language issues and the youngster’s private life, “we’ll have to wait and see what sort of structure [for the deal] takes shape.”

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