Kicker Report: Leverkusen work on loan deal for Pohjanpalo
Stephan von Nocks of German footballing magazine Kicker reports that Leverkusen are in advanced talks with Turkish side Caykur Rizespor to arrange a loan-out for striker Joel Pohjanpalo.
The transfer window in Turkey remains open through Wednesday. Germany's red company team may thus still be able to secure a loan destination for a striker they've long wished to get off the roster. This has been reported by a reliable source at Germany's preeminent footballing publication.
Stephan van Nocks of Kicker notes that die Werkself still wished to sell 26-year-old Finnish attacker Joel Pohjanpalo outright. The player's renaissance continues. He scored again for his national team this weekend, bringing his career total to 11 goals in 47 caps for the Huuhkajat.
Pohjanpalo also racked up 28 tallies in his last German loan locales: Fortuna Düsseldorf, Hamburger SV, and 1. FC Union Berlin. Despite missing significant time last season due to injury, he chipped in six Bundesliga goals last year with die Eisernen.
It has hardly been a secret that Bayer wished to cash in on the striker as Pohjanpalo sits on an expiring contract. Van Nocks notes that this may complicate a potential loan deal to Caykur Rizespor in the Turkish first division.
The German club must first ink their third-string striker to a contract extension in order to complete the deal. Van Nocks also notes that the Turkish "sparrow hawks" have no interest in a purchase.